The Mount Prospect Police Department has charged eleven (11) juveniles in connection with two incidents that occurred on July 8, 2024, in the Village of Mount Prospect. These incidents occurred in the 900 block of West Lincoln Street and at 606 West Northwest Highway. The following juveniles were arrested and charged between November 11 and November 20, 2024:

• Juvenile #1 – Male, 17 years old, of Mount Prospect
  • Charges:
    • 2 felony counts of Aggravated Battery
    • 2 felony counts of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 2 felony counts of Mob Action
    • 2 felony counts of Hate Crime
• Juvenile #2 – Male, 17 years old, of Mount Prospect
  • Charges:
    • 1 felony count of Aggravated Battery with Great Bodily Harm
    • 1 felony count of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 1 felony count of Mob Action.
• Juvenile #3 – Male, 17 years old, of Mount Prospect
  • Charges:
    • 2 felony counts of Aggravated Battery
    • 2 felony counts of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 2 felony counts of Mob Action
• Juvenile #4 – Male, 17 years old, of Mount Prospect
  • Charges:
    • 2 felony counts of Aggravated Battery
    • 2 felony counts of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 2 felony counts of Mob Action
• Juvenile #5 – Male, 17 years old, of Mount Prospect
  • Charges:
    • 2 felony counts of Aggravated Battery
    • 2 felony counts of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 2 felony counts of Mob Action
• Juvenile #6 – Male, 17 years old, of Mount Prospect
  • Charges:
    • 2 felony counts of Aggravated Battery
    • 2 felony counts of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 2 felony counts of Mob Action
• Juvenile #7 – Male, 17 years old, of Mount Prospect
  • Charges:
    • 1 felony count of Aggravated Battery with Great Bodily Harm
    • 1 felony count of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 1 felony count of Mob Action
• Juvenile #8 – Male, 17 years old, of Arlington Heights
  • Charges:
    • 1 felony count of Aggravated Battery with Great Bodily Harm
    • 1 felony count of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 1 felony count of Mob Action
• Juvenile #9 – Male, 17 years old, of Mount Prospect
  • Charges:
    • 1 felony count of Aggravated Battery with Great Bodily Harm
    • 1 felony count of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 1 felony count of Mob Action
• Juvenile #10 – Male, 16 years old, of Arlington Heights
  • Charges:
    • 2 felony counts of Aggravated Battery
    • 2 felony counts of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 2 felony counts of Mob Action
• Juvenile #11 – Male, 17 years old, of Mount Prospect
  • Charges:
    • 1 felony count of Aggravated Battery with Great Bodily Harm
    • 1 felony count of Criminal Damage to Property
    • 1 felony count of Mob Action

On July 8, 2024, at approximately 9:45 PM, a 41-year-old male victim came into the Mount Prospect Police Department to report he had been battered earlier in the evening by a group of teenagers in the parking lot of the business at 606 West Northwest Highway. The victim related that he had utilized an online dating app to arrange to meet a person at that location. After arriving, the victim related that he was approached by a group of teenage males, who confronted him verbally and battered him. Teenagers in the group also damaged the victim’s vehicle. The victim related he fled in the vehicle and was eventually able to get away from the group of teenagers, who followed him in their vehicles.

On July 8, 2024, at approximately 9:54 PM, Mount Prospect Police Officers responded to the 400 block of See Gwun Avenue for a report of a battery. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the 23-year-old male victim who related that he was battered by a group of teenagers, who also damaged his vehicle. The victim related that he had used an online dating app to arrange to meet a person in the 900 block of West Lincoln Street. After arriving, the victim was approached by a group of teenage males, who confronted him verbally and battered him. While this was occurring, one of the teenagers slashed the tires on the victim’s vehicle. The victim was able to get back to his vehicle and drove away, stopping his vehicle after realizing some of his tires had been slashed. The victim approached a home and asked them to call 911. The victim was transported from the scene by the Mount Prospect Fire Department to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Mount Prospect Police Detectives were able locate video surveillance footage that captured the incident at 606 West Northwest Highway and were able to identify some of the offenders in the video. An extensive investigation was conducted where eleven (11) total juveniles were identified as taking part in one or both incidents. The investigation also found one of the offenders yelled a racial and another derogatory term during the incident, resulting in that juvenile offender being charged additionally with two counts of Hate Crime.
 
Mount Prospect Police Detectives consulted with the Cook County States Attorney’s Office, who approved charges related to the juvenile offenders. All the juvenile offenders willingly turned themselves in between November 11 and November 20, 2024. They were transported to the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center in Chicago.

During the investigation, it was learned that some of the teenage offenders got this idea through a viral social media trend they saw online. “We are asking parents to take these incidents as an opportunity to talk with their teenage children about the seriousness of actively participating in these types of trends they see on social media,” said Police Chief Michael Eterno.

The public is reminded that criminal charges are not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.