Dupage Policy Journal

Newly released sheriff’s reports detail the chaos on the scene the day of the unsolved mass shooting at a June 17 Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook.

DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick has never publicly commented on the shooting, but a FOIA request from the DuPage Policy Journal has revealed more details from the day.

Police reports indicate victims on the scene reported three males wearing black ski-masks and hoodies near the Five-Star Pantry and BCD Liquor store and police later reported they heard shots fired from that location.

Reginald Meadows, who was killed in the shooting, was previously arrested by Villa Park Police and charged with unlawful use of a firearm. | Villa Park Police

A gun was found in the grass near one of the victims, but no suspects have been identified, nor have any arrests been made by Mendrick's department.

Reporting officer Kyle Day’s “crime scene log” provides a play by play and a detailed glimpse into the hours immediately after the shooting that killed one and injured 22. 

Day’s log starts off with someone screaming “rape” and “help” at the "Juneteenth celebration" where an estimated 400 people had gathered. He notes he could hear a female screaming, but could not locate where her voice was coming from.

After five minutes of screaming, Day reported hearing 30 gunshots were fired, followed by several callers to 911 in which those gathered can be heard screaming in the background.  

The report then records several instances of injured people.

One caller reported, “her friend was shot in the side. Does not want to wait for the FD.” 

A firearm was recovered at the scene but it is unclear if it was linked to the shooting.

“Someone is bleeding, can’t stop bleeding, fell on glass awake and breathing,” another report reads.

“Another caller in front of liquor store, victim bloody nose at BCD Liquors hypervenlitating 23-yeard-old,” another report reads.

About an hour and 22 minutes into the ordeal, Darren Meadows called the police looking for his brother, Reginald Meadows. He was the only person killed in the incident.

In an incident supplement report, Meadows was later noted as “shot” and “killed.” He was given aid on the scene, including pressure applied to his wound, and taken to Hinsdale Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“I recovered a firearm in the immediate area of where [redacted] was laying,” the report reads, with the redacted person’s name assumed to be Meadows. 

Meadows once robbed employees at Hinsdale Hospital of gift cards and a smart phone, on Christmas Day. 

"People began running in all directions"

Another report described a black Canik handgun being recovered. It not have a serial number on it, but it was claimed by one of the victims who said he had dropped it in the chaos

At least five victims were reported at BCD Liquors.

At one point, Day reported four detainees were being held for investigation. Their names were not revealed.

Day later recorded the scene in a police report filed the day of the shooting on June 17.

“As we approached Building 5, gunshots were heard coming from the "Plaza" parking lot. The gunfire continued for just over 20 seconds,” Day wrote.

“Screaming could be heard from the large crowd. People began running in all directions and vehicles were speeding from the scene. Serqeant Krause, Deputy Kenny, Deputy Ester and I returned to the parking lot. We began a search for gunshot victims requiring medical aid.”

“An ISPERN broadcast was made for other police agency assistance. ACDC was instructed to activate the MERIT Major Crimes Taskforce. Deputy Chief Swanson was notified of the incident.”

“Multiple gunshot victims were located at the scene. Deputy Nunez, Deputy Cuchetto, Deputy Fane, Deputy Harrah and Deputy Taylor arrived on scene to assist. See supplement reports for specific information on each deputy's actions during the incident."

"Medical aid was provided to gunshot victims on scene and they were transported by responding EMS personnel to area hospitals, ACDC provided notifications from area hospitals that a number of people with gunshot wounds had self transported and arrived in the hospital emergency rooms. Deputies on scene were sent to area hospitals (Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Good Samaritan, Bolingbrook, La Grange and Loyola).”

“Deputy Fane responded to 1GW 450 Honeysuckle Rose Lane (Building 2) for reports of gunfire striking the building. She located windows and a screen door that appeared to be struck by bullets. Deputy Fane confirmed no persons inside the apartments were struck by gunfire or requesting medical assistance. Information on the damage was later provided to Forensic Investigators who arrived on scene.”

“Any remaining non-police personnel were escorted from the scene. Spent shell casings could be seen scattered throughout the parking lot.”

“Assisting Police personnel assisted by marking shell locations with tent cards. A crime scene perimeter was established using yellow crime scene tape. The perimeter extended from the south and east ends of the parking lot, west to Lilac Lane and the north side of Honeysuckle Rose Lane.”

“A crime scene perimeter surrounding the south end of Building 2 was also established. I started a crime scene log to document personnel entering within the crime scene perimeter (the crime scene log was later entered into property control as evidence).Multiple unoccupied vehicles remained in the parking lot.”

Day took down the license plate numbers of several vehicles abandoned at the scene, some likely belonging to shooting victims before turning leaving the investigation up to the DuPage County Sheriff detective's force.

Day also reported that State Police Special Agent Dan Oaks was assigned to monitor a tip line.

“MERIT Major Crimes Taskforce members including DuPage Sheriff's Detectives arrived on scene to continue the investigation. Deputies were stationed around the crime scene perimeter to ensure scene security,” Day wrote.

“Field notes gathered from responding members of the C/E team were submitted to property control as evidence.”

“My body worn camera was activated during the incident. Nothing further at this time.”

"Black-colored ski-masks...clad in black, blue and grey hoodies"

The batch of reports also includes detailed information on the victims show in the incident.

One victim noted that “prior to hearing the gun shots go off, she noticed three male subjects standing in front of Five-star liquor store [redacted] stated they looked suspicious due to all three subjects wearing black colored ski-masks.”

The subjects were said to be clad in black, blue and grey hoodies as well.

The next day, one victim, described as 6-foot-3-inches, set fire to a pair of shoes at an apartment complex resulting in deputies being called to the scene.

Upon arriving the police noticed he had a gunshot wound through his calf.

“While speaking with him I did tell him that he would have to leave, I also out that he was one of the victims involved in last night’s shooting. He had a thru and thru gun shot injury in his calf. He stated that he went to a hospital and they told him it was going to take several hours to get seen so he walked out. I told him that I would call an ambulance for him to at least get is cleaned up. He stated ‘no’ and he walked off,” the police report reads.

A supplemental report of one of the officers with Day provides more information on the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

“As we neared Building #5, I heard what sounded like 4-5 gun shots followed by a brief pause and then a barrage of gunfire. I immediately took cover behind a car. I believed the gunfire to be coming from the parking lot outside of the 5 Star Pantry and BCD Liquor's. When the gunfire stopped, Sgt. Gay and I immediately ran towards the 5 Star Pantry to confront the shooter(s) and render aid to the victim(s),” the report reads.

Over a week later on June 26 Detective David Sears reported going back to local businesses to obtain video footage of the events.

However, Sears reported he was unable to collect all of the video.

“I attempted to collect from 2000 hrs and 2359 hrs. As I was collecting this video, I observed that the device was overwriting these files at the same time I was attempting to collect them. I transferred available information from the original timeline. I was unable to collect all of the requested video but obtained what was available at the time (see attached acquisition log),” he reported.

He noted he collected tapes from several businesses, including two restaurants, during his investigation.

“I returned to the Digital Forensic Lab and copied these video files onto the detective hard drive for analysis by detectives. I also put copies of the video files on to Bluray DVD's and entered them in to property control evidence. Nothing further,” Sears reported.

Read the reports HERE.