Bail set at $5K for woman facing gun charge after teen allegedly tried to steal dog during sale arranged on Facebook

Bail was set at $5,000 for a woman who shot a 14-year-old girl in the chest Friday evening when the would-be-robber brandished a BB gun and tried to make off with a Husky dog she had arranged to buy on Facebook.

Araceli Diaz, 21, a FOID card holder who doesn’t have a concealed-carry license, faces a felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon but isn’t charged in connection with the shooting. During Diaz’s initial court hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, Assistant State’s Attorney Maha Gardner explained that prosecutors determined she had acted in self-defense.

After setting up the sale over Facebook, Diaz met the teen and another girl Friday evening in the 2300 block of South Drake Avenue, Gardner told Judge Arthur Wesley Willis.

Diaz then handed the dog to the other girl and explained that it would cost $800, Gardner said. When Diaz asked for either the cash or the dog back, the 14-year-old said she also wanted to take a look.

As the other girl left the area, the 14-year-old pulled out an “unknown metal object,” ordered Diaz to the ground and struck her twice in the head and face, Gardner said. Diaz then pulled out a Glock 9mm and shot the girl in the chest and abdomen before driving off in her Cadillac ATS.

The teenager was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was treated for her wounds and later arrested, according to Gardner and Chicago police. A broken BB gun was found at the scene of the shooting.

Facebook messages and POD camera footage led investigators to Diaz’s home in Maywood, where they found the Cadillac, Gardner said. The Glock was found in the passenger seat loaded with eight rounds.

Diaz later admitted to opening fire on the teen during the attempted robbery, according to Gardner, who said Diaz had no prior arrests.

Michael Walsh, Diaz’s private attorney, described his client as a high school graduate who has since worked for three years at Sloan Valve Company in Franklin Park. Though Diaz’s family members declined to comment after the hearing, Walsh said the incident boils down to an “unfortunate set of circumstances.”

“I feel bad for the 14-year-old who got shot, but unfortunately the two of them were up to no good. The poor dog died, too,” said Walsh, who noted that his client breeds Huskies.

Willis set Diaz’s bail at $5,000 after Walsh made it clear that her family could post the $500 that would be needed to bond out. Her next court date was set for Dec. 11.

The 14-year-old, who was charged with a felony count of attempted robbery with a firearm, is expected to appear in juvenile court on Dec. 9, police said.