1 Shot Fired, 2 Arrests In Evanston: Police

EVANSTON, IL — Two Evanston teens were arrested in connection with a report of gunfire Thursday afternoon. Police were called to the 400 block of Custer Avenue around 2:38 p.m. and told that a shooting suspect in a black hooded sweatshirt had been seen running south down Sherman Avenue, police said.

One of the first officers to respond saw a man matching the description running down the 300 block of Sherman Avenue and was able to detain him until backup arrived at the scene. A search of a backpack he was carrying turned up a loaded Zastava 9 mm handgun.

Ulises J. Barrera, 19, of the 2000 block of Darrow Avenue was arrested and charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, a felony.

Evanston police also spoke to a 22-year-old Chicago man who described an ongoing dispute with Barrera and his friend, identified as 19-year-old Bruno A. Aguilar, of the 1900 block of Brown Avenue.

The Chicago man told police he had been driving north through an alley west of the 400 block of Custer Avenue when another car, driven by Aguilar, pulled in front of him headed the opposite direction.

Barrera, the man said, was sitting in the car's front passenger seat when he drew a handgun and pointed it at him.

The victim told police he rammed their vehicle and tried to turn his car around to head south when Barrera got out of the car and fired a bullet at him.

Police said Aguilar, the alleged driver, was detained in the 400 block of and taken to the Evanston Police Department.

According to Police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan, a single shell casing was recovered from the alley and multiple witnesses were interviewed by investigators.

After further investigation, felony charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm were approved for both men. Both were booked into Cook County Jail Friday and were awaiting bond hearings as of the afternoon.

_{Top photo: Ulises J. Barrera (left) and Bruno A. Aguilar booking photographs | Evanston PD}