Murder Charges Filed Against Teen In Fatal Birthday Party Shooting

LAKE COUNTY, IL — An 18-year-old Round Lake Beach man faces murder charges in connection with a drive-by shooting at a birthday party in Ingleside, authorities said.

Yurem Mejia-Gomez, of the 300 block of Meadow Green Lane, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm. He is due in court this morning.

• Man, 19, Killed In Drive-By Shooting While Attending Birthday Party In Lake County: Police

Mejia-Gomez is accused of fatally shooting a 19-year-old man while he was in the driveway at a home in the 35700 block of North Wilson Road in Ingleside at about 11:15 p.m. on Friday, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The man, who has not yet been identified, was at the home in Ingleside attending a birthday party. While there, a group arrived at the party and started an argument with those at the party, police said. That group ended up leaving but then drove by the home and fired shots out of a vehicle toward the residence, police said.

When police arrived, they found the man in the driveway with a gunshot wound to the upper body, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said.

Detectives linked Mejia-Gomez to the crime and searched a vehicle at a Round Lake Beach home, where a gun that is believed to have been used in the shooting was found, according to a news release. Authorities also found ammunition that matched the type of rounds shot during the incident.

“Our patrol deputies, detectives, and explosive detection canine team worked tirelessly to identify and apprehend the person responsible for this senseless act of violence," said Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg. "Their swift and thorough investigation demonstrates the dedication of our team to ensuring that those who harm others are held accountable as quickly as possible.”