A man has been ordered to be detained without bail in the killing of a Round Lake Beach teen who was fatally shot in her house last month.
A Lake County judge ruled Wednesday that Shorbonia Poole Jr., 19, should be detained in the death of Valeria Rodriguez, 15.
Rodriguez was shot at around 9:10 p.m. on July 24 by a stray bullet that was fired into her home in the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive. Poole, who lived nearby in the 1400 block of Kildeer Drive, was taken into custody by police two days later.
At Wednesday’s detention hearing, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Facklam outlined the evidence compiled in the case. Police, he said, recovered a handgun in the backyard of Poole’s house that matches the bullet that hit Rodriguez.
Investigators recovered a shell casing in a small park near the Rodriguez residence that matches the gun from the backyard, Facklam said. Authorities have also found video footage that places Poole near the scene at the time of the shooting, the prosecutor said.
De-escalation techniques
Gurnee police lauded their officers who resolved a potentially dangerous situation with someone experiencing a mental health crisis this month at Gurnee Mills mall.
Officers were called at about 3:40 p.m. Tuesday after getting reports of a 19-year-old man threatening to hit a female.
After they arrived, officers encountered the man inside a store. He turned to officers and brandished a knife. Using de-escalation techniques, officers were able to convince the man to surrender. He was taken for treatment, police said.
“The courage and compassion demonstrated by our officers today are a testament to their commitment to serving and protecting our community,” Chief Brian Smith said. “In situations like these, our priority is always the safety and well-being of everyone involved, and I’m proud of the way our team handled this challenging incident.”
Police Academy
There’s still time to register for the fall session of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Police Academy.
The academy offers citizens a chance to get an in-depth look at the various branches and operations of the sheriff’s office. The sessions, which will be held at the Waukegan office and the Libertyville substation, will be held on Monday nights beginning Sept. 16 and will conclude in November.
The academy is free and open to all county residents ages 18 or older with no felony convictions and “of good moral character,” the sheriff’s office said.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to get an inside look at the operations of your sheriff’s office,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “You will have a chance to hear and learn from our professionals who serve the community each and every day.”
The application deadline is Sept. 12. The registration form is on the sheriff’s office website.
Fundraiser
A “Rocktoberfest” benefit to support the Waukegan Police and Fire Memorial Fund will take place Oct. 4 at the Impact Fuel Room in Libertyville.
The event will feature the bands Will Power and The Breakfast Club. Tickets are $20 and will be available at the door. The event starts at 7:30 p.m.
