Round Lake Beach has announced a community event to remember the life of Markell Pierce, an 8-year-old village resident who authorities say was killed by his mother and her boyfriend.
The event is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 N. Civic Center Way.
The night of prayer is meant to allow people to collectively grieve and seek healing in the wake of the child’s death. The village said. The event is free and open to all.
Pierce died on Feb.6 after, authorities said, he was subjected to malnourishment and regular punishment with a belt, along with verbal abuse. His mother, Dominique Servant, and her boyfriend, Joey Ruffin, have been charged with first-degree murder in the boy’s death.
Shooting victim identified
The Lake County Coroner’s Office has identified the man killed in an officer-involved shooting in Waukegan.
Ricardo Delafuente, 58, of Waukegan, died of multiple gunshot wounds, the coroner said.
Waukegan police officers came to an address in the 100 block of Leith Avenue at around 3 p.m. on Feb. 7 for a report of a suicidal subject, and according to police, the shooting ensued.
Waukegan police have declined to release additional information about the shooting. The Illinois State Police is conducting the investigation.
Serious injuries
A Zion man was injured Wednesday when he failed to slow and rear-ended another vehicle near Antioch, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.
The crash happened on Hunt Club Road near Stateline Road, police said.
The Zion man was driving north in a Toyota Yaris when he struck a Chevrolet Colorado that was stopped at a stop sign. The impact pushed the Colorado into a Dodge Durango that was stopped ahead of it. Neither of those drivers was injured.
The Zion man, 32, was brought to a hospital with what police said were serious but not life-threatening injuries.
Senior advocates
The Sheriff’s Office is reminding older residents of its senior advocates program.
The volunteer program helps build connections between seniors and law enforcement.
“Through monthly meetings and ongoing training, our advocates learn about crime prevention, community safety, and victim assistance — helping reduce opportunities for criminal victimization and improve quality of life for older residents,” the sheriff’s office said.
People interested in the program can send an email to sdcommunityservices@lakecountyil.gov.
Shooting arrest
Grayslake police have announced an arrest in a recent shooting.
GPD detectives, along with members of an FBI team, took Elo Owolidie, 28, of Evanston, into custody on Feb. 11. He has been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm.
The arrest stems from a Jan. 30 shooting near the 500 block of Lincoln Avenue in Grayslake. A man was reportedly wounded in the shooting.
At the time, police described the shooting as an isolated incident and said there was no danger to the public.
