Palatine Man Wanted In Apartment Complex Shooting Of 2 Teens

PALATINE, IL — The Palatine Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating the offender in a Sunday night shooting at a Palatine apartment complex in the 1900 block of N. Green Lane North that left two teens hospitalized. In a release, Palatine police said department investigators with the help of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, were able to identify the offender as Javier Ponce, 18, of the 1300 block of N. Geneva Drive in Palatine. According to a release, Palatine police investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Ponce for two counts of attempted murder, and his whereabouts aren't known at this time.

Ponce is described as a Hispanic male, 5’05”, weighing 150 pounds, with shoulder-length black hair, and a large “KINGS” tattoo across his throat, according to police.

Anyone with information on Ponce’s location should contact the Palatine Police Department at 847-359-9000 or Palatine/Inverness Crime Stoppers at 847-590-7867.

Police continue investigating what they said is believed to be a gang-related shooting involving the targeted victims; a 15-year-old who was hit in the upper torso and foot, and a 19-year-old victim who was hit in the hand and foot. Both victims were taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge by Palatine Fire Department paramedics, according to a release.

On Monday afternoon, police said the 15-year-old was in critical, but stable condition following surgery, and the 19-year-old victim was still at the hospital in stable condition.

According to a release, it was learned both victims were standing near the entrance to an apartment building on N. Green Lane North waiting to complete a drug interaction, when the shooter walked towards them and started shooting, firing several shots. Police said the shooter ran to a vehicle waiting in a nearby parking lot.

Patch will continue updating this story as new information becomes available.