Two men were killed and another was seriously injured in a shooting sparked by “internal gang conflict” outside the Kankakee County Courthouse Thursday, according to police.
Relatives Miguel Andrade, 23, and Victor Andrade, 26 were leaving a hearing at the courthouse about 9:15 a.m. when they were approached in the parking lot by a man with several weapons, Police Chief Robin Passwater said at an evening news conference.
The armed man, Antonio Hernandez, 24, fatally shot Victor Andrade and injured another man standing on a sidewalk nearby, Passwater said.
Miguel Andrade went to grab a gun from his car and began shooting at Hernandez in a “running gun battle” in the parking lot and lawn of the courthouse, Passwater said. Police found Miguel Andrade with a gun standing over a fatally wounded Hernandez, Passwater said.
Miguel Andrade was taken into custody. Hernandez and Victor Andrade were pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
Miguel Andrade, Victor Andrade and Hernandez are all members of the Latin Kings and were engaged in an internal gang conflict, according to Passwater. Hernandez is believed to be from Waukegan, he said.
The other person wounded was not connected to the gang, Passwater said.
A second person was arrested by sheriff’s deputies while leaving the scene of the shooting. But Passwater said that person was not connected to the shooting and was in custody on an unrelated charge.
“Multiple firearms” were recovered from the scene, including an assault-style rifle, Passwater said.
Passwater said the “brazen” attack happened during a busy time of the day when many people were entering and exiting the courthouse, which was closed for the rest of the day.
City of Kankakee Mayor Christopher Curtis told reporters he was thankful there were no more victims. “It could have been a lot worse,” Curtis said.
Buildings near the shooting were on lockdown as a precaution, the city said, but authorities later reported that the area was secure.
Several law enforcement agencies were offering support in the investigation, including Illinois State Police, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service, he said.
