Man Fires Gun 'In Act Of Celebration' In Bar Parking Lot: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A 22-year-old North Chicago man faces charges for allegations that he fired off a gun in the parking lot of a Lake County bar over the weekend.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office responded to the parking lot of the bar in the 37800 block of North Sheridan Road in Beach park at about 2 a.m. on Saturday after a deputy heard several gunshots, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

A deputy in the area of the incident spotted a white work van quickly leaving the bar parking lot, and she pulled the van over, police said.

Deputies found a 9mm pistol in the possession of the driver of the van, who has been identified as Danis J. Nunez-Bonilla, 22, of the 1100 block of Adams Street in North Chicago, police said. They also found several shell casings in the vehicles as well as 11 discharged shell casings near the bar.

Authorities believe Nunez-Bonilla fired the gun "in an act of celebration," police said.

Nunez-Bonilla is charged with four counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and the reckless discharge of a firearm.

“I am extremely proud of our alert deputies involved in this dangerous situation. Working together, they quickly identified the man who was recklessly firing shots into the air and safely took him into custody without anyone being injured," Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said. "This incident serves a powerful reminder that 24/7, our sheriff’s deputies are out there protecting our community.”