Elgin man charged with shooting at occupied vehicle

A 23-year-old Elgin man is being held on $300,000 bail after his arrest on charges he fired five shots Monday at an occupied vehicle after he thought someone was talking trash about him.

Jose L. Gonzalez, of the 600 block of Jay Street, faces felony charges of armed violence/discharge a firearm, armed violence, aggravated discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and criminal damage to property, according to Kane County court records.

If convicted of the most severe charge, armed violence/discharge a firearm, Gonzalez faces a minimum prison term of 25 years, prosecutors said Wednesday during a bond hearing.

Prosecutors said Gonzalez thought someone was "talking (expletive)" about him and he ran a red light and fired five shots at a vehicle with people inside of it. Authorities recovered shell casings, prosecutors said at the bond hearing.

Judge Michael Noland set Gonzalez's bail. Gonzalez must post $30,000 to be released from the Kane County jail while the case is pending. He is next due in court Monday.

Elgin police spokeswoman Kristie Hilton confirmed "multiple shots" were fired and deferred inquiries to the Kane County state's attorney's office, which is expected to release a statement later today.

The Daily Herald filed a Freedom of Information Act request Wednesday seeking more information. The city has five business days to respond.

Gonzalez was not allowed to own a gun because of a felony conviction stemming from a December 2018 arrest in which he was charged with aggravated domestic battery of his girlfriend. He pleaded guilty to felony unlawful restraint and was sentenced to 160 days in jail and three years of probation ending in August 2022, court records show.

If a judge determines Gonzalez violated his probation in the 2018 case, he could be resentenced to up to three years in prison.