19-Year-Old Dies After Gas Station Shooting: Cops

NEW LENOX, IL — After several days in critical condition, a 19-year-old who was shot at a New Lenox gas station has died, police said. The shooting happened at around midnight Sunday at Circle K gas station, 471 Nelson Road in New Lenox. The New Lenox Police Department responded to a call of shots fired at the gas station and found a 19-year-old New Lenox man had been shot one time in the back.

According to police, the man was returning to his car after exiting the gas station and was confronted by a man wearing a surgical mask and armed with a semi-automatic handgun.

Police said the 19-year-old tried to run from the armed man, who then fired one shot, hitting him in the back. The armed man entered a car waiting at a gas pump that was occupied by at least one other person. The vehicle then fled the scene, according to police.

According to police information obtained by Patch, the car is a black SUV, possibly a Hyundai Santa Fe. The armed man was also described as having a "bow-legged" gait. The man checked the door handles of the victim's car and then confronted the victim when he exited the store before he shot him in the back, police said.

The 19-year-old was taken to Silver Cross Hospital and died late Wednesday.

According to the police, the motive of the shooting is unknown but may have been an attempted carjacking. Police are being assisted in the investigation by the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force.