Prosecutors: Bensenville gunman shot at ‘imaginary people’

Prosecutors say a Bensenville man was trying to protect himself from “imaginary people” when he opened fire inside his home Tuesday, prompting lockdowns at four nearby schools.

DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bail Wednesday at $300,000 for Jose Bailon, who faces charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, unlawful firearm possession and cocaine possession.

Bailon, 35, was arrested after a nearly four-hour standoff that ended about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday when police fired tear gas into his home on the 200 block of South Mason Street.

In bond court Wednesday, Prosecutor Kevin Laude said the situation began about 10:30 a.m. after another man inside Bailon’s home was awakened by a loud noise. He said the witness noticed several bullet holes in a door and hallway, then heard gunfire and saw Bailon use a chair to barricade himself in a bedroom.

The shooting prompted officials in Bensenville Elementary District 2 to lock down four nearby schools as hostage negotiators and the DuPage County sheriff’s SWAT responded. Laude said at least three more shots were fired before tear gas was deployed.

Some gunfire struck an unoccupied home next door, Laude said. In a police interview, he said, Bailon confessed he emptied three magazines of ammunition and knew he could have hurt someone.

“He indicated he was trying to protect himself from essentially imaginary people,” Laude said in court. “Clearly, he’s dangerous based on his actions.”

Bailon identified himself in court as a welder with a wife and two children. He told authorities he bought the weapon — a .380 caliber handgun — and ammunition in Cook County, Laude said. Bailon is an illegal immigrant and not authorized to own a firearm, according to prosecutors.

Laude said police also found more than 15 grams of cocaine in Bailon’s home.

Bailon would have to post $30,000 to be released from jail. He is scheduled to appear March 27 in front of Judge John Kinsella.