An Aurora man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a gang-related shooting that took place in the parking lot of a Route 59 shopping center in Naperville, DuPage County prosecutors said.
Victim Elijah Reyna and second person were walking toward the Shogun Japanese steakhouse at 596 Route 59 when they saw rival gang member Giovanni Portillo, 25, of the 1300 block of Andover Drive, seated at a nearby patio, a state’s attorney’s office news release said.
Portillo fired at least 10 shots from a 9 mm gun at Reyna, striking him several times in the hand and lower torso, the release said.
After a third person with a concealed carry gun license fired a shot, Portillo fled the area, police reports said.
Reyna was taken by friends to Edward Hospital in Naperville, reports said.
“The allegations that Mr. Portillo opened fire on a Saturday afternoon in an extremely well-traveled and crowded shopping district are outrageous,” Berlin said in the news release. “The type of brazen and violent behavior alleged in this case has an adverse effect on the safety and security enjoyed by the entire community and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Portillo was taken into custody Friday, May 25, on charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, both class X felonies, the release said.
He is an ex-convict who was sentenced to three years in prison in 2015 on Kane County charges of aggravated battery/great bodily harm, felon in possession of a weapon and possession of 50 to 300 grams of cannabis, according to state records. He completed his parole in May 2019.
Portillo is being held in the DuPage County jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 21.
Naperville police chief Robert Marshall said such a crime as the one Portillo is charged with is unusual for Naperville.
“It was extremely fortunate no innocent bystanders were injured as a result of the criminal actions that day,” he said in the release.