Bond Set At $1M For 2 Men Charged In Oak Brook Mall Shootout

OAK BROOK, IL — Two Chicago men are being held on $1 million bond each in connection with last week’s shootout at Oakbrook Center Mall that injured six people and that took place two days before Christmas as shoppers filled the popular suburban shopping center.

The two men appeared in bond court on Wednesday morning in DuPage County where the pair were ordered held on the $1 million bond with 10 percent to apply to each man, State's Attorney Robert Berlin announced.

Steve L. Lane, 29, is charged with one count of aggravated battery-discharge of a firearm and accused of shooting at Tyran Williams, Berlin said. Lane also is charged with four counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm in the direction of another person, as well as aggravated unlawful use of a weapon without a FOID card.

Williams, 32, has been charged with five counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm as prosecutors maintain that he exchanged gunfire with Lane. Berlin also said Williams is being charged with unlawful use of a firearm by a felon.

“The allegations that these two men opened fire in a crowded mall of between fifteen to twenty thousand people, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year are evidence of an unconscionable degree of violence and a complete and utter disregard for public safety,” Berlin said in a news release.

“Make no mistake, in DuPage County public safety is our top priority and anyone who commits this type of violent crime in DuPage County will be apprehended, charged and, if found guilty, face a significant amount of time behind bars. We are all extremely grateful that the injuries sustained by the four innocent victims do not appear to be life-threatening and that they are all on the mend."

Three bystanders were wounded by gunfire at Oakbrook Center on Dec. 23: two women in their 40s, both shot in the left thigh, and a woman in her 20s shot in the right foot. Another woman in her 20s suffered an ankle fracture as she tried to flee, police said. Berlin said in a news conference that another man was also shot in the incident.

Police discovered at one man, later identified as Williams, had been shot four times. Prosecutors allege that officers found a Glock 9 mm handgun near Williams as they began to treat his gunshot wounds.

Following an Oak Brook Police Department investigation, it is alleged that Williams and Lane were in a verbal altercation when both men pulled out a handgun and began shooting at each other. Investigators believe that during the incident, both Lane and Williams fired their weapons resulting in William being hit four times and four innocent bystanders being struck by gunfire.

Investigators also maintain that after the shooting Lane fled the scene. Lane was taken into custody at the mall a short time later following a brief foot pursuit by a Nordstrom Loss Prevention Officer and an Oak Brook Police Officer. A Taurus G2C 9 mm handgun was also found near the Nordstrom store where Lane was running after the shooting. Williams was transported to a local hospital.

He was released from the hospital into police custody on Monday. The innocent bystanders who were shot were also transported to a local hospital for medical attention. None of their injuries were life-threatening and they have all been released from medical care. When processing the scene, authorities found twelve fired 9 mm shell casings.

The Oak Brook Police Department is still searching for a third man reported to be connected to the incident, which took place just outside the Nordstrom store near Ann Taylor Loft. Police are asking witnesses who either saw the shooting or witnessed the man who is said to have been wearing a blue puffy coat at the time to contact the Oak Brook Police Department.

Williams is scheduled for arraignment on January 20. The next court appearance for Lane is scheduled for arraignment on January 19. Both cases will be heard in front of Judge John Kinsella.

"Members of the Oak Brook Police Department performed heroic actions running toward gunfire that not only placed, what we came to learn, the perpetrators in custody but also took immediate lifesaving action to save the life of one of the defendants,” Oak Brook Police Chief James Kruger said in a news release. “Words cannot describe the amount of pride I have for our officers and for law enforcement as we received a tremendous amount of support from surrounding agencies who selflessly responded to our call for assistance.”