$250K bond for man charged with shooting outside Evanston IHOP

Bond was set at $250,000 for a North Side man charged with shooting another man Sunday morning in an IHOP parking lot in north suburban Evanston.

Cornelius Jones, 29, has been charged with one felony count each of aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, according to a statement from Evanston police. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of marijuana possession.

Jones walked up to the 25-year-old Beach Park resident about 5:05 a.m. in the IHOP parking lot in the 100 block of Asbury Avenue and asked his gang affiliation, police said. When the man said he was not a gang member, Jones pulled out a gun and shot him three times before leaving the area in a gray vehicle.

The victim walked into the emergency room at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston with gunshot wounds to the torso, arm and leg, police said.

Before the shooting occurred, officers with the Neighborhood Enforcement Team were working on an ongoing narcotics investigation involving Jones, according to police. During the investigation into the IHOP shooting, several witnesses identified him as the shooter.

Officers executed a search warrant about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jones’ home in the 7500 block of North Ridge, police said. Jones was taken into custody, and the search turned up a loaded Smith & Wesson .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun as well as ammunition and marijuana.

Bond for Jones was set at $250,000 Friday, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. His next court date was scheduled for July 29 in Skokie.