CHICAGO — A reputed gang member has been charged with shooting a young mother in Rogers Park as she tried to shield her 2-year-old child from the gunman, prosecutors said.
The woman and her 2-year-old were riding in a car in the 1600 block of West Juneway Terrace about 6:10 p.m., on Oct. 9 when a man with a gun approached on foot, prosecutors said.
The mother, 20, saw the gunman and was moving to shield her child when a bullet struck the woman in the shoulder, prosecutors said.
Stevon Browner, 20, a reputed gang member, was later identified as the shooter, according to police. He was arrested Wednesday in the 1600 block of West Howard Street and charged with aggravated battery and discharge of a firearm.
Browner, of the 6500 block of North Ridge Avenue, was ordered held on $750,000 bail by a Cook County judge during a brief court hearing Thursday.
The victim was treated for the gunshot wound at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston and released, prosecutors said.
Ald. Joe Moore (49th) released a statement Friday about the arrest, with information from Rogers Park Police District Cmdr. Thomas Waldera.
According to the statement, police said it is not clear whether the shooting was gang related or the result of a personal dispute.
Moore also applauded the victim and witness for cooperating with detectives on the case.
"It's important to note that the police were able to arrest the suspect because the victim and witnesses cooperated and provided important information that led to the arrest," Moore said in the statement.
"Unfortunately, far too many shootings in our neighborhood remain unsolved and the victims and their families are left without a measure of justice simply because witnesses do not come forward."
