Elgin police investigating 3 shooting incidents
Elgin police continue to investigate two shootings that took place Friday night and early Saturday morning, leaving one person with nonlife-threatening injuries.
Altogether, that makes three Elgin shootings, all done from vehicles, in the span of 28 hours from Thursday night. The first shooting also caused nonlife-threatening injuries to one person.
Police are adding patrol cars as the shootings are investigated by the special investigations division, which includes the gang crimes unit, Elgin Police Cmdr. Glenn Theriault said.
"This is an anomaly to Elgin, not a recurrence," he said.
Police responded to Lavoie Avenue and Jay Street for a report of a shooting at about 9:50 p.m. Friday, Theriault said.
Two people were walking in the area of Dwight and Liberty streets when a vehicle carrying several drove up. A brief discussion ensued and someone fired a gun from inside the vehicle, he said.
A 21-year-old Elgin man was struck in the cheek and was taken to Presence Saint Joseph Hospital for treatment, he said.
At about 2:50 a.m. Saturday, an officer on patrol heard gunshots near two vehicles traveling southbound on McClure Street at about Mill Street, Theriault said.
The officer was able to stop one of the vehicles, whose female driver said the other vehicle pulled up alongside hers and an occupant shot at her vehicle multiple times.
On Thursday night, a 19-year-old Elgin woman suffered a superficial leg wound when someone fired shots from inside a vehicle, police said.
The woman and two other people were walking on the Highland Avenue bridge when the vehicle carrying several people drove by. An argument erupted between the two groups and shots were fired.
The shootings appear to be unrelated, Theriault said.
"We are actively following up on every investigative lead and adding additional proactive measures to try to prevent that from occurring again," he said.
Police are looking into whether the shootings are gang-related, he said.
Theriault pointed out there's a difference between a gang-motivated shooting, and a shooting involving gang members but motivated by other reasons.
Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain agreed the occurrences are an anomaly in Elgin.
"It certainly is unusual for us - we haven't had this kind of an outbreak for a while," he said.
"The police are following up ... We'll see where (the investigation) goes."
Detectives from Elgin's gang crimes unit and major investigations divisions are investigating. Ask anyone with information should contact them at (847) 289-2646.
People also can provide anonymous tips or information via the crime line at (847) 695-4195 or by texting 847411 and including ELGINPD in the beginning of the text, along with the message or tip.