Judge sets $3 million bail for man charged with murder of North Chicago teen

A Lake County judge set bail at $3 million Tuesday for one of three people charged in the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy at a North Chicago gas station late Sunday afternoon.

Amireon C. Williams, 18, of North Chicago is charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder and one felony count of obstructing justice. Williams would need to post $300,000 in cash to be released from jail while his case is pending.

He is accused of killing Lavon'ta Brown of North Chicago, who died from multiple gunshot wounds, Lake County coroner's office Chief Deputy Steve Newton said Monday following an autopsy.

Police said investigators believe Lavon'ta was at a gas station at the corner of South Jackson and 10th streets around 5:15 p.m. Sunday when he was shot.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Lindsay Hicks said during the virtual court hearing Tuesday morning that Williams was one of the people who shot at Lavon'ta from a gold Chevy Malibu. Hicks said evidence shows Brown was walking near the gas station when Williams and another unidentified person drove by, rolled down the rear windows and began firing at him.

Hicks said Lavon'ta then pulled out a gun and returned fire, then ran and collapsed in the alley. Lavon'ta was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly afterward, police said.

Sgt. Heather Cognac, a spokeswoman for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, said people at the gas station called 911 to report the shooting, but by the time officers arrived, the Chevy had driven away. As deputies were getting information on the car and tending to Lavon'ta, emergency dispatchers began receiving reports that a Chevy had just smashed into an embankment near the corner of South Lewis Avenue and Belvidere Road. Hicks said there were six people in the Chevy when it crashed. Williams and two others were apprehended after fleeing into the Home Depot.

Cognac said Tuesday the other three occupants of the Chevy have been identified by investigators but haven't been apprehended yet.

Cognac said police are not revealing yet who they believe was the other person who shot at Lavon'ta.

Hicks said that while Williams was in the Home Depot, he took off a hoodie he was wearing and hid it in a bathroom. She said he gave police a false name when initially confronted

Williams appeared at the hearing from the North Chicago Police Department. While Hicks read the state's narrative of the charges Williams remained silent, occasionally shaking his head to say, "No."

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart called the killing senseless and outrageous in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

"Our office will seek justice for Lavon'ta, and we have reached out to his family to provide further support," Rinehart said.

Williams is next due in court Thursday.