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player ready...A Lindenhurst man who pleaded guilty to weapons charges related to the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Justus Howell last April in Zion now faces robbery charges.
Authorities said Tramond Peet had arranged to sell Howell a gun on April 4, 2015, but a struggle ensued and the gun fired a shot into the ground. Howell, of Waukegan, then ran off with the gun and a Zion police officer shot him a short time later, authorities said. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s office ruled the shooting justified and said the officer would not be charged.
Last October, Peet pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. As part of a plea deal approved by Judge Mark Levitt, Peet was sentenced to 24 months probation, 150 hours of community service and 48 days in jail, which he had already served while in custody at the Lake County Jail.
While on probation, authorities said Peet and another suspect went online to set up a Jan. 21 meeting in Grayslake to purchase a pair of athletic shoes. Instead, Peet and his accomplice stole the shoes and $400, authorities said.
Assistant State’s Attorney Jim Newman said Peet brandished what the victim thought was either a gun or a BB gun during the time of the robbery. Officials later determined the weapon was a BB gun.
Peet now faces two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of robbery, and theft. He faces four to 15 years in prison for the aggravated robbery charge, three to seven years in prison for the robbery charges and up to three years in prison for the theft charges, authorities said.
Peet, 19, is currently being held in Lake County Jail on $75,000 bail.
Peet will be back in court Wednesday morning. Unless a plea deal is reached, he is scheduled to face trial May 10.
Twitter @jimnewton5