Shooter Was Showing Gun To Palos Hills Boy When It Misfired: Prosecutor

PALOS HILLS, IL -- A 20-year-old man charged with shooting a boy in Palos Hills apparently told police that he never intended to shoot anybody when the 9mm Glock he was showing to the boy misfired and hit him in the stomach, prosecutors said. The boy has since been released from the hospital after he was treated for gunshot wound in his lower abdomen on Sunday.

Jair Montalvo, of Palos Hills, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on felony charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Montalvo is also facing misdemeanor charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition without a FOID card, obstructing identification.

The prosecutor said Montalvo called the boy Sunday morning and told him to meet him in the vestibule of an apartment building in the 8500 block of 101st Terrace. The boy was waiting downstairs in the vestibule when Montalvo arrived. Montalvo allegedly pulled out a loaded 9mm glock to show to the boy, removing the clip several times.

The boy was allowed to hold the the unloaded gun and then gave it back to Montalvo, the prosecutor said. There was a round in the chamber when the gun was handed back to Montalvo. When the gun jammed, Montalvo banged it on the wall to dislodge the round, when it fired hitting the boy in his left lower abdomen, according to the charges.

The round passed through the boy and into the wall of another unit the building. No one was hurt. The boy was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he did not require surgery and was released. Montalvo was picked up by police about fifteen minutes later, the prosecutor said.

While being interviewed by police, Montalvo allegedly made admissions to shooting the boy, but said he never intended to shoot anybody. Police said they recovered the gun was recovered from Montalvo’s apartment.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Montalvo may be suffering from mental health issues.

“I’m reading some very disturbing notes here in the pre-trial [assessment] and he allegedly has a gun,” Judge Felice said. “I’m concerned about his well-being and the community’s well-being.”

Bail was set at $50,000. Montalvo’s next court date is July 6 in Bridgeview.