Bullet Fired Through Wall Lodges In Sleeping 4-Year-Old's Mattress: State's Attorney

GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL — A Glendale Heights man is charged with felony reckless discharge of a firearm after police say he fired a gunshot through the wall into a neighboring apartment, where four children were sleeping.

At 10:38 p.m. Thursday, Glendale Heights police responded to a 911 call in the 600 block of East Fullerton Avenue, with the caller reporting that a bullet went through the wall of her apartment into the room where her children, ages 4 to 14, were sleeping.

After speaking with the caller, police knocked on the door of the adjacent apartment and were met by Lucki before conducting a sweep of the apartment and finding two pistols.

Prosecutors allege that when Lucki was handling one of the guns, a CZE-09 9 mm pistol, it fired thought the wall into the caller's apartment.

According to the state's attorney's office, one of the children was lying right below where the bullet entered the wall, and had drywall dust on their neck. The bullet lodged in a mattress next to that child, where the youngest child was sleeping.

Officials say Lucki had a valid Firearm Owner's ID card and a valid concealed carry license.

“Responsible gun ownership requires understanding that the right to possess a firearm comes with a duty to store it safely, handle it lawfully and never put the public at risk,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “When that responsibility is ignored, the consequences can be deadly and irreversible. Safety, training and respect for the law are mandatory and are essential in keeping our families and neighborhoods safe. We are all very thankful that no one was injured, or worse, as a result of Mr. Lucki’s alleged reckless actions. I thank the Glendale Heights Police Department for their swift response to the initial 911 call and follow-up efforts on this case. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Sean Kinsella and Anna Derkacz for their work in preparing charges against Mr. Lucki.”

Glendale Heights Chief of Police George Pappas added, “Commonsense gun safety measures are paramount for all responsible gun owners. Lawful gun ownership includes understanding the deadly risks involved with reckless actions. We are very thankful that none of the young children were injured or worse."

Lucki appeared in court on Friday, where the state's motion to detain him before trial was denied, and he was released on conditions including being prohibited from contact with the victims. He is due back in court in front of Judge Brian Telander on Feb. 2.

He has also been ordered to surrender all his firearms to the Glendale Heights Police Department.