Lindenhurst man involved in Zion gun sale returns to jail

A Lindenhurst man charged with trying to illegally sell a gun to a black teen who was later shot by police during a foot chase in Zion was remanded back to the Lake County jail Wednesday.

Tramond Peet, 18, was ordered held for one week for violating the conditions of his bond, defense attorney Robin Goodstein said. Peet violated curfew and did not check into pretrial bond services as required when he was released on $5,000 bail earlier this year, Goodstein said.

Peet was ordered to be on 24-hour curfew and was not allowed to leave his residence except to attend school or court. He is also not allowed to carry weapons or drugs, or associate with known gang members.

Peet is due back in court July 22 in front of Judge Mark Levitt, Goodstein said.

Peet faces one charge of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for trying to sell a gun to Justus Howell, 17, minutes before Howell was shot by a Zion police officer after a foot chase April 4, according to police.

Peet and Howell met in an alley near Gilead Avenue for the gun sale, but a fight broke out when Howell tried to take the weapon from Peet, authorities said.

The gun discharged during the fight, authorities said, and a neighbor phoned police. Authorities said Howell ran from the alley when police arrived.

Howell was shot twice in the back at Gilead Avenue and 24th Street and was pronounced dead at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, authorities said.

Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim determined Howell's shooting by the veteran police officer was justified because video showed Howell attempted to turn and shoot an officer during the foot chase.

Nerheim's decision in May resulted in several small protests in front of the Lake County Government Center in Waukegan.