Two teens and an adult were shot but are expected to survive following an altercation at a Waukegan motel early Saturday morning that drew a response from numerous police departments, according to authorities.
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A man from Zion was shot in the back of the head and the hip, while two male teens, one from Gurnee and one from Zion, each suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, according to Waukegan police.
Waukegan Police Commander Joe Florip said all three victims are expected to make a full recovery. The names of the teens are not being released because they are juveniles.
The wounded adult was wanted on a warrant from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for fleeing a police officer and assault, and a warrant through the Illinois Department of Corrections for armed robbery, Florip said.
The adult’s name is not being released at this point in the investigation, Florip said Sunday evening. The man is in the custody of the Waukegan Police Department and will be turned over to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office authorities as soon as possible, he said.
Police received a call from at the Crossland extended stay motel in the 1100 block of Northpoint Boulevard at 1:50 a.m. Saturday regarding shots fired.
Florip said that when officers arrived, they found a crime scene including blood at many locations throughout the motel but no victims were located.
A short time later, the Waukegan Police dispatch center received phone calls from two area hospitals, stating that a total of three gunshot victims had entered their facilities, according to police. Patrol officers responded to both hospitals, and Waukegan police detectives were called in to investigate. During the investigation, Florip said detectives learned that multiple rooms had been rented at the extended stay motel for a juvenile party. At some point during the party, an altercation started and shots were fired.
Detectives believe that multiple guns were fired during the altercation, according to authorities. Many of those involved in the incident have been uncooperative with police, Florip said, and as of Sunday evening no firearms had been recovered.
Due to the scale of the multiple shooting, the size of the crime scene and the number of people involved, Waukegan police activated Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) protocol. Florip said that allowed Waukegan to request assistance from other area law enforcement agencies to help secure and control the crime scene and provide assistance with regular law enforcement duties in Waukegan at the time.
Officers from the Grayslake Police Department, Gurnee Police Department, Illinois State Police, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Libertyville Police Department, North Chicago Police Department, Park City Police Department, and Zion Police Department all responded to the ILEAS request in Waukegan.
Florip also said the Lake Forest Police Department “was of great assistance during this investigation.”
Following the arrival of police at the motel, four juveniles who were not injured were arrested on various curfew, obstructing justice, marijuana and drug paraphernalia charges.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Waukegan Police Department’s Tip Line at 847-360-9001.
Twitter @jimnewton5