Palatine Shooting Suspect Arrested In Mexico: Police

PALATINE, IL — A suspect wanted in an April 2019 shooting at a Palatine apartment complex was arrested in Mexico Saturday, according to a release from the Palatine Police Department. Police said 19-year-old Javier Ponce, of the 1300 block of N. Geneva Drive, Palatine, was identified and arrested on a warrant for two counts of attempted murder, as a result of an investigation by Palatine police investigators and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

According to the release, Palatine police investigators reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force once they learned Ponce had left Illinois. Intelligence later learned the man went to Mexico, the release said, leading Mexican Immigration Authorities to find Ponce in Guanajuato, Mexico on July 20, with the help of the U.S. Marshals and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to police, Ponce was arrested on accusations of violating Mexican immigration laws, and was deported back to the U.S. There, Ponce was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and taken to an extradition hearing, although he ended up waiving it, the release said.

Ponce is at the Montgomery County Jail outside Houston, Texas, while he waits extradition to Illinois, according to police.

In April, Palatine police investigators obtained the arrest warrant for Ponce, shortly after an investigation began in the April 28 shooting in the 1900 block of N. Green Lane North in Palatine.

In what police believe to be a gang-related shooting involving the targeted victims, a 15-year-old was hit in the upper torso and foot, and a 19-year-old victim was hit in the hand and foot.

More: Palatine Man Wanted In Apartment Complex Shooting Of 2 Teens

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 finish a drug interaction, when the shooter walked towards them and reportedly started shooting, firing several shots. Police said the shooter ran to a vehicle waiting in a nearby parking lot.

Both victims were taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge by Palatine Fire Department paramedics, according to a release. In an update following the shooting, 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 at that time.

Patch will update this story as new information comes in.