The weapons and attempted murder charges a teen faced in connection with the shooting of a 15-year-old Mount Prospect boy have been upgraded to murder since he died days after being shot.
The accused teenager is now facing six counts of first-degree murder for the shooting death earlier this month of Damian Hernandez, 15, of the 900 block of Foxwood Drive in Mount Prospect, Cook County prosecutors said Tuesday.
The 14-year-old appeared in juvenile court Tuesday where authorities upgraded the charges.
Police said Hernandez was shot in the 1700 block of Clear Creek Bay on Aug. 17. He died five days later from his wounds at Advocate Lutheran General’s Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge.
Hernandez was a transfer student of Township High School District 214 and was entering his sophomore year, school officials said. SD214 officials declined to say in which of the district’s six schools Hernandez was enrolled.
Palatine police told Pioneer Press they believe the shooting is gang-related, but declined Tuesday to provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation. Authorities did not say that the slain boy was in a gang.
The accused 14-year-old was taken into custody following the shooting and initially faced attempted murder and weapons charges. The youth remains in juvenile custody in Cook County and is scheduled to appear in court again for this case in September, prosecutors said.
In addition to this teen being charged in connection with the fatal shooting, another one is being sought.
An arrest warrant was issued on Aug. 23 for a second person. Jesus Pantoja, 18, of the 1500 block of Silver Lane, in unincorporated Palatine, is wanted in connection with the shooting, police said.
Anyone with information regarding Pantoja’s whereabouts is urged to call Palatine police at 847-359-9000. Pantoja is considered to be armed and dangerous, police said.
Clifford Ward is a freelancer.