COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A Little Village couple targeted in a February shooting believe the gunman and his girlfriend are harassing them on Facebook, prosecutors said Tuesday.
During a bond hearing for alleged gunman Giovanni Hernandez, Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas called the allegations "extremely disturbing."
According to prosecutors, an 18-year-old man and his 17-year-old girlfriend were walking in the 2700 block of South Pulaski Road about noon Feb. 15 when Hernandez and an accomplice approached from behind.
Hernandez, 18, is accused of yelling "Latin Kings" before firing four shots. The man pushed his girlfriend aside and was shot in his buttocks, lower torso and thighs, prosecutors said.
At that point, Hernandez's alleged accomplice, who has not been charged, told Hernandez that the victim's girlfriend had seen his face, Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said in court Tuesday.
Hernandez lifted his gun, pointed it at the 17-year-old girl and ran off to a waiting van without firing any shots, prosecutors said. The shooting was captured on surveillance footage.
Since the attack, the girl has received multiple Facebook messages from someone she believes to be Hernandez's girlfriend, Antonietti said. The notes inquire about the shooting victim's health.
The teen also has noticed copious "likes" from a man she believes is Hernandez using an alias, prosecutors said. The 18-year-old shooting victim, who is fully recovered, has noticed similar notes and activity on his account, according to Antonietti.
Chaimpas denied Hernandez bail Tuesday, saying, "The public at large has to be protected from him."
The judge ordered Hernandez to have zero social media contact "whatsoever" with the shooting victim and his girlfriend. Chiampas then turned her attention to the six young people who stood up in bond court on Hernandez's behalf — and said the ban extends to them, too.
"Anybody who [contacts the victims] will face additional charges," Chiampas said. "Do I make myself clear?"
Hernandez's six supporters said, "Yes, your honor," before leaving court Tuesday.
Hernandez, of the 2700 block of South Millard Avenue, was arrested on a warrant Sunday night and is charged with aggravated battery by discharging a gun, aggravated assault by discharging a gun and aggravated discharge of a firearm near a vehicle or school.
Police recovered two .40-caliber shell casings from the shooting in February and identified Hernandez in surveillance video from a nearby barbershop, prosecutors said.
According to his public defender, Hernandez has a child and attends church.
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