Palatine shooting suspect back in Illinois

A Palatine man who authorities say fled to Mexico after shooting two teens during a drug deal is back in Cook County facing attempted murder charges, police said Wednesday.

Javier Ponce, 19, of the 1300 block of North Geneva Drive, appeared Wednesday before a Cook County judge, who ordered him held without bond while awaiting trial.

He's charged in connection with the April 28 shooting of two teenagers who were standing near the entrance to a building at Baldwin Green Apartments on the 1900 block of North Green Lane. Police described it as a gang-related shooting.

Authorities say Ponce fled the country to avoid capture, but Mexican immigration authorities seized him July 20 in Guanajuato, Mexico, and later deported him to the United States. He was held at the Montgomery County Jail outside Houston, until his extradition to Illinois.

His next court date is set for Aug. 29.