Wisconsin Man Charged With Attempted Murder In Red Roof Inn Shooting: Arlington Heights PD

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Following a nearly 10-month investigation, a Wisconsin man has been arrested and charged with a felony count of attempted murder following a shooting last year at a Red Roof Inn. Jonathan E. Caston, 22, of Kenosha, is also accused of two felony counts of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, two counts of felony aggravated discharge of a firearm, and felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, according to the Arlington Heights Police Department.

Police said Caston was at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse Thursday on a pre-trial release for an unrelated firearms charge. In a subsequent interview, he reportedly admitted his involvement in the Red Roof Inn case.

RELATED: Guest Shot After Exiting Room At Red Roof Inn — Arlington Heights PD

At around 11:30 p.m. Nov. 1, 2024, Arlington Heights police responded to the hotel at 22 W. Algonquin Road for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive 26- year-old male victim in the lobby. The officers conducted a physical assessment, identifying a gunshot wound to the victim's chest.

Officers provided emergency medical assistance, applying a chest seal and beginning cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Soon thereafter, Arlington Heights Fire Department paramedics responded and took over care and initiated advanced life-saving measures. AHFD took the victim to a level I trauma center. Police said thanks to the efforts of all first responders, the victim was revived but remained in critical condition at a nearby hospital for an extended period of time.

Over the course of months, a comprehensive investigation was undertaken by members of the
Arlington Heights Police Department Criminal Investigation Bureau. The investigation revealed
the shooting was the result of a conflict between two groups renting rooms on separate floors of
the hotel. After an initial argument between several people in front of the victim's room, Caston reportedly retrieved a firearm from a vehicle in the parking lot and returned, concealing his face
within his hooded sweatshirt.

Police said an argument continued and escalated to a physical fight, prompting Caston to produce a handgun and repeatedly fire in the direction of the victim, striking him in the chest and causing a graze wound to a female associate. Caston then fled in an unidentified vehicle.

Through the analysis of surveillance video, witness interviews and the use of license plate reader data, detectives identified the vehicle related to the incident and Caston being responsible for the shooting.