North suburban Chicago police seek teen in fatal shooting

ZION, Ill. (AP) - North suburban Chicago police are searching for a 16-year-old boy who allegedly fired a bullet that struck and killed a young mother last month inside her nearby home.

Zechariah C. Myles has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the death of Melanie Yates, 23, police said. A Lake County judge set the bond on Myles' arrest warrant at $3 million.

Police believe the Zion teen is 'œactively working to avoid apprehension,'ť said Christopher Covelli, spokesman for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.

Covelli said the teen left his home on the night of Oct. 17 and began 'œrecklessly'ť shooting a rifle toward someone in Zion, a Lake County city located north of Chicago near the Wisconsin border.

Police said Yates, a mother of two young daughters, was not the intended target. She was struck in the head by one of the rounds inside her nearby home.

Yates was taken in extremely critical condition to a local hospital, where she died the next morning.

Police said anyone who sees Myles should not attempt to apprehend or approach him, and should instead call 911. Those who have information about his whereabouts can call Zion police at 847-872-8000 or leave an anonymous tip with Lake County Crimestoppers at 847-662-2222.