Cops: Man Accidentally Shot Brother, With 2-Year-Old In The Room
ST. CHARLES, Ill. (STMW) -- If it wasn't enough that a northwest suburban man accidentally shot his brother at their home on Sunday night, police say the man's 2-year-old child was in the room at the time, and there was marijuana in the house.
Alejandro Garcia of unincorporated South Elgin, told investigators the shooting took place in a bedroom while the child was present, a statement from the Kane County Sheriff's office said. The 28-year-old now faces multiple felony charges.
About 12:30 a.m. Sunday, a South Elgin police officer saw a car speeding 71 mph in a 30 mph zone, and followed it to a parking lot Route 31 and State Street, near the South Elgin Fire Dept., a statement from the sheriff's office said.
When officers came up to the car, the driver said the passenger—his son—had been shot. The injured man got out of the car holding a blood-soaked shirt. He had a gunshot wound to his chest, and an exit wound in his lower back, police said. He was treated by paramedics and taken to Presence Saint Joseph Hospital in Elgin.
The victim's father told police the shooting was accidental, and happened at their home on the 1100 block of Woodcliff Drive in unincorporated South Elgin.
The sheriff's officer later learned that two brothers, both in their 20s, were handling a revolver in the home when it accidentally went off. The victim allegedly told police he did not know who shot him.
On Tuesday, the sheriff's department said Alejandro Garcia admitted shooting his brother. While they were unable to locate the gun, deputies did find about 35 grams of cannabis in the home, a statement from police said.
Garcia was charged with felony counts of reckless discharge of a firearm, destruction of evidence and possession of cannabis; and misdemeanor counts of child endangerment, possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card and possession of ammunition without a valid FOID card, the statement said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
