Grocery Store Lockdown Caused By Armed Teen: La Grange Police

LA GRANGE, IL — A teen faces weapon and assault charges after an apparent road rage incident resulted in a Mariano’s grocery store being closed to customers over concern that an armed man was inside the business, according to police.

The incident unfolded around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday along the La Grange-Western Springs border, according to La Grange police.

Ricardo A. Rivera, 18, of Riverside, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault in connection with the incident, police said.

Officers responded Wednesday to reports of a person waving a gun at a driver and then entering the Mariano’s in the 4700 block of Gilbert Avenue in Western Springs, according to police. The Garden Market shopping center, which includes Mariano's, is in Western Springs, next to the boundary with La Grange.

“Patrons were temporarily prohibited from entering Mariano’s while officers conducted a search of the store for a possible suspect,” police said. “Customers were allowed access to Mariano’s once it was determined the store was safe. It was later determined that the alleged incident occurred in the Village of La Grange.”

Rivera was developed as a person of interest and taken into custody, according to police, who said he will appear Friday before a judge for a pretrial detention hearing.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call La Grange police at 708-579-2333.