Attempted Murder Charges Filed In Shooting Of Romeoville Officer

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Attempted first-degree murder charges have now been filed against the man police say shot a Romeoville Police officer in the shoulder during a stolen car investigation on May 25.

The man, Samer Hernandez-Abdallah, 29, had already been charged with armed robbery, stemming from a stolen vehicle incident that happened on May 20 in Romeoville. The bond for those charges had been set at $5 million, and 10 percent does not apply.

Now, Hernandez-Abdallah is facing four counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of armed habitual criminal, two counts of aggravated battery, three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, four counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, and a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Will County Circuit Court.

Romeoville Police Officer Dominic Thielmann was shot during the May 25 incident, as officers were investigating a stolen vehicle near Sierra Trail and Summerfield Drive in Romeoville. When officers approached the vehicle, Hernandez-Abdallah fled on foot, police said. A foot pursuit began, in which officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, and Thielmann was shot.

The attempted murder and aggravated battery charges stem from the shots fired at Thielmann, and a second police officer, according to the complaint.

The armed habitual criminal charges are due to the "defendant knowingly [possessing] a firearm," alleging Hernandez-Abdallah was carrying a 9 mm handgun and a SKS 7.62-caliber rifle, after he was convicted of the offenses of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in Cook County, the complaint states.

The reckless discharge of a firearm charge was due to the endangerment of the bodily safety of the residents of Lakewood Falls because Hernandez-Abdallah "shot a firearm toward homes in a residential neighborhood," the complaint states.

Bail pertaining to these charges has been set at $10 million cash, for a total of $15 million.

Hernandez-Abdallah is set to appear in court on Monday, and again on June 15.

Over $122,000 has been raised for Thielmann, to support his recovery. According to the GoFundMe, Thielmann was shot in the shoulder during a foot pursuit with the suspect. The bullet traveled upward and exited under his chin. Thielmann also had a skull fracture. He returned home from the hospital last week.