Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Lombard Chief of Police Tom Wirsing announced today that Judge Demetrios Panoushis has ordered that a Glendale Heights juvenile accused of bringing a loaded gun to a Lombard high school will be held in custody until at least his next court appearance. The juvenile, a fourteen-year-old male, is charged with one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon in a School (Class 3 Felony) and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Minor (Class 4 Felony).

On September 9, 2024, at approximately 2:15 p.m., a student at Glenbard East High School notified a security officer that he found a loaded 9 mm handgun in a boys’ bathroom. Through the course of their investigation into the matter, Lombard police officers traced the gun to an address in Glendale Heights, later determined to be the juvenile’s home. The juvenile was interviewed and taken into custody a short time later.

“I would like to commend the student who did the right thing and brought this matter to the attention of authorities,” Berlin said. “With the school year just beginning, I want to make one thing perfectly clear, DuPage County law enforcement, school personnel and our residents have zero tolerance for the type of behavior alleged in this case. Furthermore, any threats of violence, or perceived threat of violence, will be taken extremely seriously, fully investigated and, if charges are warranted, prosecuted. I thank the Lombard Police Department as well as the Glendale Heights Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office as well as authorities at Glenbard East High School for bringing this matter to our attention for prosecution. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorney Anthony Irsuto and Katharine Walker for their efforts on this case and her continued work in keeping our schools safe.”

“The Lombard Police Department would like to thank the Glendale Heights Police Department, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms for their assistance in this investigation,” Wirsing said. “A quick and thorough response from school administrators and law enforcement led to an apprehension and subsequent charges of the student. I would like to thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his staff for their assistance.”

The juvenile’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 16, 2024, for a status hearing.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant's guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.