Second juvenile sentenced in stolen car incident
The second of two juveniles was sentenced in DuPage County Thursday for possession of a stolen vehicle from which a gun was fired.
The 17-year-old was sentenced to an indeterminate period of time not to exceed his 21st birthday after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a stolen vehicle, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert B. Berlin said.
The other juvenile, now 18, was given the same sentence last month.
The charges stem from an incident in February, when Downers Grove police responded to a call of shots fired on the 7400 block of Webster Street.
A resident warming up a car saw a vehicle stop in front of the residence and turn off its headlights. Two occupants allegedly left their vehicle, which was reported stolen out of Chicago, walked up the driveway and approached the car warming up.
Two residents exited the home and confronted the two men. It is further alleged the two men returned to their vehicle, pointed a gun at a female resident, fired a shot in her direction and fled.
A Darien police officer later spotted the vehicle at 75th and Cass. The vehicle refused to stop with Darien police in pursuit. It entered I-55 northbound, at which time the Illinois State Police continued the pursuit.
The vehicle exited at Martin Luther King Boulevard in Chicago and crashed. All four occupants were arrested, including the two juveniles. Two handguns also were recovered.
Two other men were taken into custody. Lamourice Shepherd, 21, is in custody at the DuPage County Jail with bond set at $750,000. Bond for Carlos Hendricks, 21, is $500,000.
"When a violent crime as alleged in this case occurs, it affects the entire community leaving residents feeling vulnerable, wondering if they are going to be next," Berlin said. "Public safety is the top priority of my office and law enforcement in DuPage County will use the full force of the law to keep our residents, streets and communities safe, regardless of a defendant's age. I would like to thank Assistant State's Attorney Nick Catizone for his efforts in holding these two juveniles responsible for their actions."