Shooting Outside Downtown Naperville Bar: Suspect Denied Bond

NAPERVILLE, IL — An Aurora man is being held without bond after police say he shot a man in the leg outside of a bar in downtown Naperville last Saturday. James A. Barnett, 27, of the first block of Root Street, was charged with felony counts of aggravated battery and armed habitual criminal in connection with the incident.

Police were called to Jefferson Avenue around 11:35 p.m. for a report of a customer who created a disturbance when staff asked him to leave. Responding officers heard gunshots outside the bar and went to the back of the building to find a man with a gunshot wound in his right leg.

According to prosecutors, Barnett, the man who was shot and another man left the bar together and got into a car. Police say a verbal argument that started in the car continued as the men left the car. Barnett is accused of getting a gun from the car and shooting the man in his leg.

“Opening fire in downtown Naperville on a Saturday night, as alleged against Mr. Barnett, demonstrates an absolute disregard for public safety and contempt for the rule of law," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release.

Berlin added, "This type of violent crime is extremely serious and will most certainly not be tolerated in DuPage County. In addition to allegedly shooting another man in the leg, Mr. Barnett’s alleged actions endangered the life of not only the victim in this case, but also the lives of innocent residents enjoying a night out."

Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres said, "Violence of any kind cannot and will not be tolerated in our city. Gun violence, especially. This was an excellent job by the officers on scene to work through the situation that evening, provide aid to the victim, and later apprehend the suspect."

Barnett is currently being held in DuPage County Jail without bond. He is set to appear in court again on April 11.