Prosecutors: Guns stolen from Beach Park shop may be linked to Chicago violence
Lake County prosecutors said they are investigating whether two guns stolen from a Beach Park gun store this spring were used in a shooting or murder in Chicago.
Assistant State's Attorney Rod Drobinski said investigators are working to determine whether weapons stolen from 5 Star Firearms by Lawrence Taylor and Clarence Williams Jr., both 18 of Zion, can be linked to violence in Chicago. Drobinski said he could not go into details about the investigation.
"There's a possibility a couple of guns may have been involved in a shooting or a murder in Chicago," he said Wednesday. "We are still tracking down more information."
Taylor and Williams are charged with single counts of possession of more than 50 stolen firearms and burglary for stealing guns from the store on the 41000 block of Sheridan Road between 11 p.m. May 31 and 5 a.m. June 1. Police have recovered only about 10 of the weapons, authorities said.
Taylor also faces charges of possession of fewer than 10 stolen firearms after the weapons were recovered at his house and vehicle after his arrest, authorities said.
The street value of the 50 stolen guns was about $30,000, officials have said.
If convicted, both can be sentenced to 6 to 30 years in prison, Drobinski said.
A 17-year-old juvenile also has been charged in the burglary, but his name has not been released because of his age, officials said.
Taylor is held in Lake County jail on $750,000 bail. Williams is held in the jail on $500,000 bail.
Taylor, Williams and the juvenile went to the gun shop May 31 to steal weapons, authorities said. While Taylor and the juvenile served as lookouts, Williams entered the shop and stole firearms from display cases and the walls, authorities said.
The three drove to Taylor's house, but returned to the gun shop about five hours later, stole more weapons and drove away, authorities said. Each time they entered the store, they were caught on video surveillance, officials said.
Taylor and Williams, who have been identified as members of a street gang in Zion, told authorities they intended to keep most of the firearms to retaliate against Zion police for the April 4 officer-involved shooting death of Justus Howell, authorities said. Authorities are trying to determine whether the statements were true.
Howell was shot and killed by veteran officer Eric Hill during a foot chase in Zion. Authorities said Howell was running with a handgun when he turned toward the officers and looked to be pointing the gun. Hill feared for his life and the lives of fellow officers and opened fire, authorities said.
After a lengthy investigation, Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim ruled in May the shooting justified. That led to small protests in front of the Lake County Government Center in Waukegan in the days that followed.