Teen Accused Of Killing Neighbor Arrested After Call Of Gunfire

WAUKEGAN, IL — Officers dispatched to a report of gunfire arrested a teenager wanted on a murder warrant stemming from the fatal shooting of a woman struck by a stray bullet in her home last month, police said.

Zechariah Myles, 16, is accused of coming out of his home in the 2800 block of Enoch Avenue on the night of Oct. 17 and opening fire with a rifle, sending a bullet into the home of one of his neighbors, 23-year-old Melanie Yates, a registered nurse and mother of two.

Police obtained a warrant for Myles' arrest four days later, after prosecutors approved a charge of first-degree murder. Under state law, 16-year-olds facing murder charges must be tried as adults, according to the state's attorney's office.

Myles, who authorities said appeared to be trying to avoid apprehension, was taken into custody by Waukegan police officers around 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to a statement from Zion Police Lt. Chris Sweeting.

Officers dispatched to a call of gunfire around the intersection of Belvidere Road and South Jackson Street quickly apprehended Myles and two other minors as they tried to flee, Sweeting said, finding three handguns after taking the youth into custody.

Myles was taken to Hulse Juvenile Detention Facility in Vernon Township on the outstanding arrest warrant and additional gun charges, according to police.

The preliminary results of an autopsy indicated that Yates died from a gunshot wound to the head. A final ruling on the cause and manner of her death remains pending, according to the Lake County Coroner's Office.

Yates, a registered nurse, leaves behind a husband and two young daughters. Her family said she was reading a Bible story to her 7-month-old when she was fatally shot, according to the Lake County News-Sun. An online fundraiser on behalf of her family had raised more than $147,000 as of Thursday.

Earlier: Murder Warrant Issued For Teen In Zion Nurse's Killing