No arrests made in Wednesday’s shooting; police have additional person of interest

By Dave Gong

There have been no arrests in connection with the Wednesday night shooting at 901 Lucinda Ave., said DeKalb Police Lt. Gary Spangler.

Spangler said several people were detained following the shooting, but were released after police determined they were not involved with the incident.

DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said police have “additional persons of interest” and are “actively pursuing” the case.

The victim originally told police he was shot in the leg when three men tried to mug him near the Village Commons Bookstore (VCB) parking lot, said sophomore biology major Dan Patterson, who spoke with the victim Wednesday night. The victim said he then ran to the parking lot between Neptune West and Neptune North. The victim described the shooter as a man with lighter skin, about 5′ 6″ tall, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, Patterson said.

The victim was taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries shortly thereafter. He was treated and released from Kishwaukee Hospital within a few hours, Spangler said.

Feithen said the victim’s story of getting mugged, as reported in the Northern Star, “mischaracterizes the incident” because police believe the shooting was not a random act of violence. Spangler said the victim is believed to have had previous communication with the suspects prior to the shooting.

Spangler declined to comment on the nature of the communication, due to the ongoing investigation.

Feithen said police are not releasing the name of the victim at this time.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers, 815-895-3272 or the DeKalb Police Department, 815-748-8400.