Suspect Charged In Gurnee Standoff That Forced School Lockdowns
UPDATED: 10/19/2012 - 5:54 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Zion man was facing several felony charges, after firing several shots inside a home in Gurnee, killing a dog inside, then barricading himself inside the home, prompting a standoff with local police, and the lockdown of at least two schools.
Kendrick Augillard, 34, has been charged with home invasion, residential burglary, aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated cruelty to a companion animal, violation of an order of protection, and possession of a weapon with no firearms owners' identification card, according to Gurnee police.
Augillard allegedly fired several shots inside a home in the 4400 block of Raven Court in Gurnee around 6:50 a.m. on Friday. Police said he shot the dog belonging to the family in the home.
An order of protection had been filed against Augillard, and he had ben barred from entering the premises, according to police.
Gurnee Police Chief Kevin Woodside said, around 6:50 a.m., people inside the home called 911 to report shots had been fired. CBS 2's Susanna Song reports, with the help of police, the family was able to get out safely, while Augillard allegedly barricaded himself inside the home.
Neighbors were told to stay inside their homes while the man was barricaded inside, while a police negotiator contacted Augillard.
The man, a Zion resident, surrendered to police around 10:30 a.m., according to Woodside, who said the incident was the result of a domestic disturbance.
"It was extremely tense. I mean we were fortunate in that, fairly quickly, this scene was secured where we knew that the person who had done the shooting was alone in the house, and once a perimeter was established around the house, then it was just a matter of time to negotiate a safe resolution, where nobody was hurt," Woodside said.
As for a motive, police would only say the incident was domestic-related, and that Augillard is known to the family at the home.
While Augillard was barricaded inside the house, officials cancelled classes at Warren Township High School's campus on O'Plaine Road. Also, students and staff at River Trail School were diverted to Viking School, after both Warren and River Trail were placed on lockdown.
"Buses and staff members were diverted to Viking School and students and staff will be housed there until it is safe to return the students and staff to River Trail School," a statement on the Gurnee School District 56 website said Friday morning.
Parents said they were somewhat reassured that the standoff did not directly involve the schools, and students were not in any immediate danger. Some parents were able to keep in touch with their kids by cell phone during the ordeal.
"I know it's not in the school, so that makes me feel a little bit safer, a little bit less worried," said Liz Schmeling, whose daughter attends one of the schools affected by the lockdown. "I've been texting her back and forth, so I know she's okay, but I won't go home until I see her."
Augillard was being held at the Gurnee police station Friday night, and was due in court for a bond hearing on Saturday.
