A 19-year-old Round Lake Park man died early Tuesday during a celebration of his birthday after apparently being accidentally shot in the head by a friend, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
David J. Graham was brought to the Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center on East Belvidere Road at approximately 12:45 a.m. with a gunshot wound to the head, according to Sgt. Christopher Covelli.
Covelli said Graham died shortly after arrival at the facility. Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper determined Graham’s death was caused by the gunshot wound.
A preliminary investigation determined that Graham, along with four other adults, were celebrating Graham’s birthday while driving in a vehicle earlier Monday evening, Covelli said. Graham was the driver of the vehicle and pulled over in the area of West Monaville Road and West Old Monaville Road in unincorporated Lake Villa, according to the sheriff’s office.
Covelli said that Graham, along with Joey Gonzalez, 19, of Round Lake, exited the vehicle and began firing a shotgun into the air.
After firing the shotgun, the two re-entered the vehicle and Graham began driving, according to Covelli, who said that Gonzalez was sitting in the back seat at the time holding the shotgun when it discharged inside the vehicle, shooting Graham in the head.
Gonzalez then moved Graham out of the driver’s seat and drove him to the outpatient center for emergency treatment.
“It does appear that it was not an intentional act,” Covelli said.
Gonzalez faces several felony charges stemming from the shooting and a previous incident.
As a result of the shooting, Gonzalez was charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon involving possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and another count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon because he did not possess a FOID card, according to Covelli.
Covelli said the two other people present during the incident are considered witnesses.
Gonzalez also was charged with residential burglary, after police say he was found to be involved in a burglary that occurred in Ingleside last October. Covelli said Gonzalez was a person of interest in the burglary, and additional facts were developed during the death investigation “indicating his involvement.”
The shooting investigation was conducted by sheriff’s detectives in conjunction with investigators from the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.
Gonzalez was in custody of the Lake County Jail Tuesday afternoon after his bail was set at $300,000 in bond court. He is next scheduled to appear in court March 17.
jrnewton@tribpub.com
Twitter @jimnewton5
