Bullet Misses Neighbor By 'Only A Few Feet:' Downers Grove Cops

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — A Downers Grove man was arrested after he fired a gun in his home and the bullet entered the living room of a neighboring apartment Tuesday, according to police. Police say the bullet "missed his neighbor's head by only a few feet." Thomas J. Lyons, 30, of the 500 block of Prairie Ave., was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm after he told police he accidentally fired the gun.

The victim told police that she was playing video games in her living room when she heard something hit the window. When she went to see what happened, she noticed a hole in both window panes and in the plastic blinds on the window. She told police there was also a hole in the drywall across from the living room window.

During an investigation, police noticed a corresponding hole in the window of the apartment across from the victim's.

When Downers Grove Police interviewed Lyons about the incident, he initially denied owning a handgun. Police say Lyons then admitted he accidentally discharged a gun and was "upset when he found out that he had missed his neighbor's head by only a few feet."

Police say Lyons had no explanation for why he didn't alert law enforcement, but said he had hoped the window had stopped the bullet.

Lyons showed police where he kept his handgun and magazine. Police then spotted what appeared to be a long rifle on the floor of Lyons's bedroom. According to police, Lyons said the rifle had been given to him and that he had been told it was a BB gun.

Police also learned from dispatch that Lyons's FOID card had been revoked. They confiscated the firearms and took Lyons into custody.

Lyons was transported to DuPage County Jail and charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm without an FOID card.

Police say an investigation is ongoing into the ownership of both guns.

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