Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested four people for recklessly firing firearms in two separate instances on July 3, 2023.
At approximately 2:20 p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in the 28700 block of North Madison Avenue, Unincorporated Wauconda, for a report of shots fired. The victim reported he was outside on the back porch, with his wife, when a bullet nearly struck him in the head. The bullet missed him, and struck a sliding glass door to his home, which shattered the door.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and began investigating. Based on the trajectory of the bullet, they checked an area to the west. Sheriff’s deputies located a vacant property in the 28200 block of Garland Drive, Unincorporated Wauconda, where they saw eight pistols and a rifle on a table in a grassy area on the property. Three individuals were located at the property. Further investigation revealed the three were shooting the guns toward the east, toward the back of the property. One of the rounds they fired was the round that almost struck the victim.
The three were arrested and after reviewing the facts and circumstances of the incident, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the charge of ‘Reckless Discharge of a Firearm’ (class 4 felony) for the following individuals:
Omar Macias, 28, of the 1400 block of Jenkinson Avenue, Waukegan
Martin D. Hernandez, 30, of the 1300 block of Cherokee Drive, Round Lake Beach
Joseph Rodriguez, 33, of the 1600 block of Round Lake Drive, Round Lake
All three remain held in the Lake County Jail on $500,000.00 bail.
Evidence of alcohol consumption was located at the scene. The vacant property is owned by an employer of one of the three arrested. Further investigation is being conducted to see if they had permission to be at the property.
Later in the day, at approximately 10:00 p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a dock in the 19300 block of West Forest Lane, Unincorporated Mundelein for a report of shots fired. A 911 caller said a woman was shooting toward an occupied boat on Diamond Lake from the dock.
Further investigation revealed the victim and five passengers on his boat were on Diamond Lake. A woman, later identified as Kristy A. Shibli, 46, of the 19200 block of West Fairview Drive, Unincorporated Mundelein, shot several rounds toward the boat. Nobody was struck by the gunfire.
It was determined Shibli was firing into the lake for fun. It appears she believed the sound of fireworks being set off in the area would mask the sound of her gunfire.
Shibli was arrested and after reviewing the facts and the circumstances of the incident, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the charge of ‘Reckless Discharge of a Firearm’ (class 4 felony).
Shibli remains held in the Lake County Jail on $50,000.00 bail.
All of the firearms in these cases were seized and notification is being made to the Illinois State Police about the incidents. The State Police will make a determination about the FOID Card/CCL status of everyone involved in the incidents.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “Both of these instances involved incredibly reckless acts, and undoubtedly could have resulted in innocent people being shot. The offenders charged in these cases acted completely irresponsible and without any regard for the safety of others. I am grateful nobody was injured or killed, and I am proud of our deputies for swiftly locating and arresting the offenders in both cases.”
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.