Barrington shooting followed party, swerving in traffic
The violence that erupted on Route 14 in Barrington early Sunday when a carload of Joliet men shot and wounded two people came after one car swerved into the traffic lane of the other and hours after occupants of both vehicles attended a birthday party, authorities said Wednesday.
Three men were in bond court Wednesday as investigators continue to piece together what led to the confrontation near Shorley Drive when 10 shots from an AR-15 assault rifle were fired, authorities said.
Bail was set at $1 million for Sherron P. Reed Jr., 20, of the 200 block of Sheridan Street; $750,000 for Brandon D. Campbell, 21, of the 400 block of Irving Street; and $500,000 for Justin L. Crowder, 19, of the 1400 block of Eunice Avenue in the shooting.
Reed is accused of firing the rifle as both vehicles traveled on Route 14, Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Zeit said.
A 21-year-old man was shot in the face, authorities said. A 19-year-old was injured by shrapnel from bullets that hit the car. Both victims also are from Joliet, officials said.
All three suspects are charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm, Zeit said. If found guilty, each could be sentenced to 6 to 30 years in prison.
Authorities said the suspects and victims had been at a house party in Lake Barrington Saturday night.
Zeit said Lake County sheriff's deputies went to the house to break up a birthday party early Sunday morning. But Lake County sheriff's officials said deputies went to the 500 block of Welch Circle in response to parking complaints. Detective Christopher Covelli said officers spoke with the vehicle owners at 1 a.m. and told them to move the vehicles. The owners complied and the officers left, Covelli said.
Even though the suspects and victims are all from Joliet, officials said court documents do not specifically say whether all five know each other.
Reed, Campbell and Crowder left the house in a blue Chevrolet Malibu and were driving on Route 14 when the car carrying the victims twice swerved into their traffic lane, Zeit said in court.
A witness in a car traveling behind the two vehicles saw shots fired from the back seat of the Malibu, Zeit said. The victims' car swerved and struck a Canadian National Railroad gate, Zeit said.
The witness made statements to police after officers arrived on the scene at 3:09 a.m., Zeit said.
Officers traced the Malibu to Campbell's mother in Joliet. The three men were taken into custody Monday and the car was searched, Zeit said. Shell casings were recovered by police, he said.
Barrington Police Chief David Dorn said Wednesday that police have not recovered the weapon.
Campbell, who was the driver of the vehicle, owns the weapon and has a firearm owners identification card, Zeit said in court. Reed was sitting behind the driver in the back seat, and Crowder was a front-seat passenger.
All three men were questioned by police and admitted their involvement in the shooting, Zeit said. A fourth person was questioned by police but has not been charged.
Attorney Kevin Bolger, who was in bond court representing Campbell and Crowder, told Judge Christen Bishop that Reed accessed the gun from the trunk of the Malibu through pull-down back seats. Bolger said Campbell and Crowder did not know Reed retrieved the weapon until after the gun was fired.
Zeit argued in court the vehicle's child safety window locks were engaged and Campbell lowered the rear windows of the vehicle so Reed could shoot the rifle.
Reed was appointed a public defender in bond court but told Bishop he plans to hire an attorney.
Reed, Campbell and Crowder are required to post 10 percent of their respective bails to be released from jail. Campbell and Crowder are due back in court May 6, while Reed is due back in court May 3.