A Waukegan resident, who was the subject of a firearm trafficking investigation, fired shots at law enforcement officers while they were serving a search warrant of his home.
Alvaro Grijalva, 29, of the 800 block of Cummings Avenue, Waukegan, was the subject of a long-term investigation being conducted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG) in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division, a SIG member agency. SIG is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force.
During the investigation, undercover detectives acquired numerous illegally possessed firearms sold by Grijalva. Grijalva is a convicted felon and documented street gang member.
“Today’s arrest illustrates the danger ATF Agents and our law enforcement partners face every day when investigating violent offenders,” said SAC Amon. “I commend the Lake County Sheriff…holding violent offenders accountable.”
— ATF Chicago
On Thursday, June 15, 2023, SIG detectives reviewed the initial facts of the case with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and obtained an arrest warrant for Grijalva for:
Gunrunning (Class 1 Felony)
Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 2 Felony)
A Lake County Judge set a bond amount on the warrant at $2 Million.
SIG Detectives subsequently obtained a search warrant for Grijalva’s residence, which was conducted in the early morning hours on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
When members of ATF and SIG approached Grijalva’s residence and announced they were the police with a search warrant, Grijalva shot at them. Grijalva shot two times, out of a back door, nearly striking two ATF agents. Fortunately, no law enforcement officers were struck by the gunfire or wounded by any other action.
Members of the ATF Special Response Team (SRT) made entry into Grijalva’s home and took him into custody. The firearm Grijalva is believed to have used to shoot at the police was located at the scene, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Grijalva was transported to the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division. After reviewing the facts and circumstances of Grijalva shooting at law enforcement, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges:
Five Counts of Attempt Murder (Class X Felonies)
Five Counts of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm (Class X Felonies)
Enhanced Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 2 Felony)
Grijalva will be held in the Lake County Jail until his initial court hearing tomorrow.
“Today’s arrest illustrates the danger ATF Agents and our law enforcement partners face every day when investigating violent offenders,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division. “I commend the Lake County Sheriff and his team at SIG for their partnership while investigating this case with ATF in order to hold violent offenders accountable.”
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “I am incredibly grateful our law enforcement officers were not shot or injured during this operation. This incident underscores the dangers and risks our law enforcement officers face every day while keeping the community safe. I am very proud of our ATF partners and SIG members took this violent, extremely dangerous criminal into custody.”
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart added, “This attack on law enforcement will be answered by our office with the most serious charges that are supported by the law and by the facts. We will do everything we can to make sure that this offender is not able to harm or threaten harm to anyone in our community again.”
Zion Police Department and Waukegan Police Department were of significant assistance throughout this investigation.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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