Two men are facing reckless conduct charges in an accidental shooting earlier this month at Farmer’s Best Market in Northlake.
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“After careful review of the actual store video with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, it was clear that charges should be considered,” said Northlake Chief of Police Norman Nissen, Jr.
Luis Hernandez is a store manager of Farmer’s Best Market, 23 W. North Ave., who accidentally shot an employee on March 9. As previously reported by Pioneer Press, Hernandez said he saw a firearm sitting on a desk that belongs to another store manager, John Lulias, who is also a licensed security guard. When Hernandez touched the gun, he accidentally fired a bullet that traveled through the wall of the security office and into the front end of the store, striking a 41-year-old employee in the ankle while he was bagging groceries, police said.
Initially, no charges were filed against either manager because the shooting was ruled an accident and the victim was only hurt and taken to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park for treatment.
“Although this looks like an accident, two small children were nearly hit by the bullet,” Nissen said.
Because of this, officials reassessed the shooting and on March 21 decided to charge Hernandez, 36, of Northlake with one count of reckless conduct and Lulias, 64, of Addison with two counts of reckless conduct. Both men are expected to appear in court on May 3.
Hernandez said Monday he had apologized to the employee who was shot and thought the accident was behind him before learning of the charges.
“They came and they charged us,” he said. “I already felt really bad about the accident. And [with these new charges], I don’t know what’s going to happen now.”
Attempts to reach Lulias Monday were unsuccessful.
Alex V. Hernandez is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.