Juvenile Shoots Young Woman Outside Chicago Macy’s Store

 Posted on December 20, 2024 in Criminal Law

A juvenile was taken into police custody three days before Thanksgiving when holiday festivities became rowdy, and a young woman was shot by the juvenile. The 19-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk near the intersection of Washington and State Streets around 9 p.m. when a juvenile male fired shots. The gunfire created chaos in the crowd of thousands enjoying the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.  

The sole victim of the shooting ran into the Macy’s flagship store. The incident occurred just a few steps from the CBS News Chicago offices, which subsequently captured some of the panic on video. The juvenile hopped on a Chicago Transit train and was arrested by the police while on the train. The gun was recovered at the same time. The juvenile was charged with unlawful use of a weapon.   

Weapons crimes are punished severely in the state of Illinois, but juvenile crimes are charged and punished differently in most cases. If you are the parent of a juvenile charged with a gun crime, it is extremely important that you speak to a knowledgeable Plainfield, IL juvenile criminal defense lawyer. Teenagers often make one-time mistakes, not realizing how serious the consequences may be.  

How is Juvenile Court Different from Adult Court in Illinois?

A minor who violates federal, state, or local law prior to his or her eighteenth birthday is defined as a delinquent minor. Depending on the offense, a minor can potentially receive a station adjustment. This means the police record the arrest but release the minor to his or her parents rather than referring the case to Juvenile Court. There is a limit to how many station adjustments a minor can receive before being referred to Juvenile Court.

When a minor is arrested and referred to Juvenile Court, a youth officer calls the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. A point system determines if the minor will be detained before the first court appearance. The point system considers any prior history of delinquency and the seriousness of the current offense. If held in detention, there must be a hearing within 40 hours.

Should the judge find there is probable cause to believe the minor committed the charged crime, he or she will determine whether to hold the minor in custody pending trial or release the minor with or without conditions such as home confinement or electronic monitoring. At trial, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the minor is delinquent – just as in an adult trial.

Unlike an adult trial, there is no right to a jury in Juvenile Court. If the minor is found not guilty, the case is dismissed, and sentencing will occur if he or she is found guilty. The minor could be placed on probation with conditions, ordered to serve up to 30 days in the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, committed to the Department of Children and Family Services, or committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice for a period of time that can potentially last until the minor turns 21.

Can a Minor Be Prosecuted as an Adult?

Under certain circumstances, a juvenile can be transferred to adult criminal court. If the juvenile is 16 or older at the time the criminal offense was committed, and the charge is serious, the juvenile is automatically prosecuted as an adult and will receive an adult sentence. A juvenile can only be automatically transferred to criminal court for first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, or aggravated battery with a firearm when the juvenile personally discharged the firearm.  

Contact a Will County, IL Juvenile Criminal Offense Lawyer

There are few things worse than having your child charged with a criminal offense. Knowing how to help your child while preserving his or her future can be difficult. Speaking to an experienced Joliet, IL juvenile criminal offense attorney from Reeder & Brown, P.C. can help make a difference in the outcome of the charges.

Our firm has handled thousands of criminal cases, both as prosecutors and defense attorneys. We focus on integrity and great customer service for each client. Call 815-885-5980 to schedule a free consultation.