Gurnee man arrested in shooting of teen near school

An 18-year-old Gurnee man is behind bars in connection with the shooting of a teenager earlier this month near an elementary school.

Semaj K. Wilcox faces a charge of aggravated battery with a firearm stemming from the April 3 shooting, Gurnee police said Tuesday. He’s scheduled to appear in Lake County court Wednesday for a detention hearing.

The charge stems from an investigation into a shooting that occurred about 5 p.m. April 3 in the area of Brookhaven Road and Wellington Circle, near River Trail School.

According to police, officers called to the scene discovered a 17-year-old Gurnee boy with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was taken from the scene to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for treatment.

As part of an ongoing investigation, an arrest warrant was obtained on April 13 for Wilcox, police said Tuesday. He subsequently turned himself in at the Lake County jail, where he is in custody pending Wednesday’s court proceedings.

“This case progressed quickly due to the focused efforts of our investigators and the strong partnership with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office,” Gurnee Police Chief Jeremy Gaughan said in an announcement of the arrest.

Aggravated battery with a firearm is a Class X felony, for which Wilcox faces six to 30 years in prison if he’s convicted.