Murder Charges Filed In Fatal Boulder Hill Shooting: Kendall Sheriff

OSWEGO, IL — A 17-year-old boy from DeKalb is facing multiple charges, including for first-degree murder, in connection to the death of an Oswego teenager, who was shot in December 2022, officials said Monday evening.

Brian O. Bell Jr., of Meridian Court, is facing three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of armed robbery in connection to the death of 18-year-old Ashton Laatz, officials said.

At around 5:21 p.m. Dec. 22, deputies from the Kendall County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of shots fired in the 0-99 block of Circle Drive East in the Boulder Hill neighborhood. Sitting inside a car that had been involved in a crash, they found Laatz, 18, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Laatz was taken to an area hospital where he died as a result of the injuries, according to deputies.

RELATED: Man, 18, Dies After Being Shot, Crashing Car In Boulder Hill: Sheriff

"The circumstances surrounding this case were very intertwined from day one," Sheriff Dwight Baird said in a statement. "It is with deep appreciation to the Laatz family that I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your cooperation, resilience, and strength during the course of this investigation and into the future as the case progresses."

Bell is currently in custody where he remains in lieu of a $1 million bond, with 10 percent to apply for bail.

The investigation into the incident remains open, officials said.