West Chicago Teen Charged With Shooting Man After Dispute

A West Chicago teen is being held on $50,000 bond after he was accused of shooting a man during the day in a residential neighborhood, officials said.

Juan C. Calderon, 15, of the 1900 block of Gates Street, was charged as an adult with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, a class X felony, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

Calderon was with the 18-year-old man and an acquaintance at about 1:30 p.m. July 2 on the 500 block of Blakely Street in West Chicago. There was a verbal dispute between the teen and the acquaintance prior to the shooting, prosecutors said.

"It is further alleged that following the verbal altercation, Calderon pulled a handgun on the two men and fired, striking his victim in the shoulder," the release said. "Calderon then allegedly left the scene."

West Chicago police officers on patrol about one block away heard the gunfire and proceeded to the scene. After a brief chase, Calderon was apprehended. The man's gunshot wound is not life-threatening, the release said.

If convicted, Calderon could face up to 30 years in prison, according to sentencing guidelines in the current state statute.

"The allegations against Mr. Calderon are particularly disturbing considering he allegedly opened fire in a residential neighborhood in the middle of the afternoon," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. "I would like to thank the West Chicago Police Department for their quick response and apprehension of the suspect in this case. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Knight for his work on this case and for his continuing efforts in combating street gangs in DuPage County."

Calderon’s next court appearance is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 5 in front of Judge John Kinsella.

Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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