Two men charged after shootings outside Hawthorne Race Course

Charges have been filed against a north suburban man and an Iowa man after two people were shot outside of Hawthorne Race Course Sunday evening.

Dennis D. Reneau, 38, of Ames, Iowa was charged with felony counts of aggravated battery, reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, police said. Jermaine R. James, 34, of the 1800 block of Brown Avenue in north suburban Evanston was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.

Reneau was ordered held on $250,000 bond, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. James was ordered held on $150,000 bond.

Emergency crews responded at 8:31 p.m. after two females were shot outside the race course at 3501 S. Laramie Ave., according to Deputy Chief Richard Jaczak of the Stickney Police Department. The race course was hosting Belize Fest, an annual event attended by more than 1,500 people.

Both females, whose ages were not released, were unintended victims of the shooting and were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

Following an investigation, police believe two separate shootings occurred at the facility Sunday night, according to Jaczak. The circumstances of the shootings were not immediately available from police.

Reneau and James are next schedule to appear in court Sept. 2 in Bridgeview, according to the sheriff’s office.