Three men plead not guilty in Wauconda shooting, attack
Three men accused of shooting and slashing at a 26-year-old Chicago man in a Wauconda apartment last month pleaded not guilty attempted murder and home invasion charges in Lake County court Thursday.
Jose Alfredo Dominguez-Eleperez, 27, of Wheeling, Noe J. Brito-Ramirez, 22, of Crystal Lake, and John A. Nava, 19, of Niles, all remain held in Lake County jail on $500,000 bail for the May 4 attack on the unidentified victim in the 100 block of Main Street.
Dominguez-Eleperez faces up to life in prison if found guilty of the charges, Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Matt DeMartini said, while Brito-Ramirez and Nava each face up to 45 years behind bars. DeMartini said Dominguez-Eleperez faces a harsher sentence because he is accused of shooting the victim.
Authorities said the victim was visiting his girlfriend when the three rival gang members knocked on the apartment door about 8:30 p.m., and barged in when the woman opened it.
Once inside, the men shouted gang slogans, searched the apartment looking for the victim, and attacked him with a knife when he was found in a bedroom, authorities said.
After the woman intervened to stop the knife attack, Dominguez pulled out a handgun and shot the victim in the chest from about 5 feet away. The bullet narrowly missed the woman's face, officials said.
The three men fled the apartment and set off a three-day manhunt that ended with their arrest May 8.
Police said the woman and three children in the apartment were not injured. Police also said they recovered the handgun and knife used the night of the attack.
All three are due back in court June 27.