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player ready...A Zion man accused of opening fire just before officers responded to a gang fight in Beach Park has been arrested and charged with several felonies, police said Wednesday.
Eric Bickwermert, 27, of the 1500 block of Lorelei Drive in Zion, was taken into custody Feb. 2 by the Lake County Gang Task Force in connection with a violent altercation that occurred about 2:45 a.m. Jan. 30 in the 9800 block of West Oak Forest Drive in Beach Park, police said.
Several people had already fled the scene when deputies responded to the fight with shots fired, according to the Lake County sheriff’s office.
“Sheriff’s deputies determined the physical altercation occurred between two rival gangs and the shots were fired just prior to the arrival of sheriff’s deputies,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.
The man believed to have fired the gun had already fled, but investigators later identified the shooter as Bickwermert, police said. Shell casings were among the evidence found at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
Bickwermert, who police said is a street gang member, has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon without a FOID card and reckless discharge of a firearm.
Bickwermert, held at the Lake County Jail on $75,000 bail, was expected in court Wednesday.
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