On March 13, 2017 at approximately 12:45AM, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center, 1475 East Belvidere Road, Grayslake, for a death investigation.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and learned a 19 year-old man, identified as David J. Graham, of the 300 block of Forest Glen Drive, Round Lake Park, was brought to the outpatient center with a gunshot wound to the head. Graham was pronounced deceased shortly after arriving at the outpatient center.
Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives in conjunction with investigators from the Lake County Major Crime Task Force conducted a thorough investigation into the incident.
Preliminary investigation shows Graham, along with four other adults were celebrating Graham’s birthday while driving in a vehicle earlier in the evening. Graham was the driver of the vehicle and pulled over in the area of West Monaville Road and West Old Monaville Road, unincorporated Lake Villa. Graham, along with Joey Gonzalez, 19, of the 300 block of Maple Lane, Round Lake, exited the vehicle and began firing a shotgun into the air.
Following firing the shotgun, the two reentered the vehicle and Graham began driving. Gonzalez, who was sitting in the backseat, was holding the shotgun and it discharged inside the vehicle. When this occurred, Graham was shot in the head.
Gonzalez moved Graham out of the driver’s seat and drove Graham to the outpatient center, in an effort to seek medical treatment. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was contacted shortly after their arrival.
Following the investigation, Gonzalez was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter (class 3
felony), aggravated unlawful use of a weapon – possession of a sawed-off shotgun (class 3 felony),
aggravated unlawful use of a weapon – no FOID card (class 3 felony).
The other individuals present who were not charged are considered witnesses in this incident.
Gonzalez was also charged with residential burglary (class 1 felony), as he was found to be involved in
a residential burglary which occurred in the 36000 block of North Tara Court, Ingleside, in October of
2016. Gonzalez was a person of interest in the burglary and additional facts were developed during the
death investigation indicating his involvement.
Gonzalez remains held in the Lake County Jail on $300,000.00 bail. He is next due in court on March
17, 2017 at 9:00AM in courtroom C-120.
Lake County Coroner Doctor Howard Cooper determined Graham’s death was caused by the gunshot
wound.
Sheriff Curran reminds the public the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of
law.