DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced today that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for an Aurora man accused of firing a handgun at a Juneteenth celebration in unincorporated Willowbrook last summer. Anthony Mothershed, 19 (d.o.b. 8/1/2004) of the 3500 block of Willowview Court, appeared at First Appearance Court this morning charged with one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm – Direction of Another Person (Class 1 Felony) and one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony).
On June 18, 2023, at approximately 12:24 a.m., deputies with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office were alerted to gunshots fired at a Juneteenth celebration in a strip mall parking lot near Kingery Highway and Honeysuckle Rose Lane in unincorporated Willowbrook. Upon their arrival, deputies learned that thirty-one-year-old Reginald Meadows of Willowbrook had been shot and killed and multiple individuals had been shot. Following an investigation into the matter led by the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, it is alleged that while in attendance at the Juneteenth celebration, Mothershed was with a group of individuals standing outside the Legacy Beauty Supply when he began shooting a Kahr Arms CW45 .45 caliber pistol in the direction of others at the celebration. It is alleged that after the shooting, Mothershed fled the scene. Deputies with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office took Mothershed into custody on October 4, 2023, without incident.
“The violent conduct alleged against Mr. Mothershed is outrageous and will not be tolerated in DuPage County,” Berlin said. “A gathering of hundreds of people is no place for illegal guns, and my office stands ready to file the appropriate charges supported by evidence against anyone accused of behavior such as alleged in this case. The investigation into what turned a peaceful celebration into a deadly shooting continues to be extremely tedious and time-consuming, and I commend Sheriff Mendrick and the detectives involved who have invested countless hours to determine the truth about what actually happened that night. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Katie Rowe, Kristin Sullivan, and Joe Lindt for their efforts in bringing today’s charges against Mr. Mothershed.”
“I would like to commend the detectives of the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office for tirelessly working on this case since its inception,” Mendrick stated. “These investigators have put in thousands of hours of work to reach this outcome. We will vigorously continue our investigation to hold anyone involved in this incident accountable. I would also like to thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his team for their legal guidance and continued support throughout this investigation.”
An investigation into the matter continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office at (630) 407-2400.
Mothershed’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 23, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge Brian Telander.
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.
