Press Release

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury announced today that a West Chicago High School student has been accused of displaying a weapon and threatening another student while at school. The juvenile, a fifteen-year-old male who lives in West Chicago, appeared at a detention hearing this morning where Judge Anthony Coco ordered that he be detained until at least his next court appearance. He has been charged with one count of Disorderly Conduct, a Class 4 Felony.

On May 9, 2022, authorities at West Chicago High School contacted the West Chicago Police Department regarding a student who allegedly displayed a weapon and threatened another student. Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged that near the end of the day, the student displayed a gun, later determined to be a airsoft gun, from his backpack, and threatened another student saying, “I’m going to shoot you.” Following the alleged incident, immediately after students were dismissed from school for the day, the victim alerted authorities at the school. The juvenile was taken into custody later that day from his home without incident.

“I understand that with finals upon us students are under pressure, but threats as alleged in this case are not harmless jokes or an excuse to blow off steam,” Berlin said. “They have a chilling effect not just on students, teachers and staff, but also on parents, siblings and the entire community. Regardless of the accused’s intentions, my office takes any threat of school violence extremely seriously and anyone suspected of making such actions will be investigated and charged accordingly. I thank the victim in this case for coming forward and authorities at West Chicago High School for contacting law enforcement. I also thank the West Chicago Police Department for their quick response as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Denis Cahill and Lynn Cavallo for their work in helping us keep our schools as safe.”  

The juvenile’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 13, 2022.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.