Palatine Man Held Without Bail In Shooting That Injured Teens

PALATINE, IL — A Palatine man who allegedly fled to Mexico following a gang-related shooting at an apartment complex in town in April has been formally charged with attempted murder. Javier Ponce, 19, of the 1300 block of N. Geneva Drive in Palatine, appeared in court in Cook County on Wednesday where he was ordered to be held without bail, authorities said.

Police say Ponce targeted two teens in the April 28 shooting in the 1900 block of N. Green Lane in Palatine. The teens, ages 15 and 19, were waiting to finish a drug interaction near the entrance of an apartment building when Ponce allegedly started walking toward them, firing several shots, according to a news release from the Palatine Police Department.

He then ran to a vehicle waiting in a nearby parking lot, police said.

Both teens were taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge following the shooting. The younger teen was hit in the upper torso and foot while the 19-year-old was struck in the hand and foot.

During an investigation into the shooting, investigators learned Ponce had fled to Mexico. Police issued an arrest warrant for Ponce on two counts of attempted murder, and authorities tracked Ponce down in Mexico where he was arrested on accusations of violating Mexican immigration laws.

He was deported back to the U.S. where he was held at a jail in Texas before he was extradited back to Illinois this past week.

He is next expected in court on Aug. 29.

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