2 teens charged in West Chicago shooting

Two teen boys are facing charges in connection with a shooting that wounded three people during an attempted robbery at an apparent drug deal last week in West Chicago.

The boys, ages 16 and 17, are both charged with attempted armed robbery but the older boy is also charged with aggravated battery, according to West Chicago police.

About 1 p.m. Jan. 24, officers responded to the area of Hawthorne Lane and Rosewood Drive for a report of shots fired, police said. Witnesses saw a vehicle leaving the area, and officers located it at a nearby hospital.

The driver sped off when he saw the officers, and ultimately crashed near the DuPage County Courthouse, police said. He was taken into custody after a brief foot chase.

An investigation determined that “several participants” pulled out guns and fired shots during a drug transaction, striking three people including an Elgin man who remains in custody at a hospital, police said.

He is in critical but stable condition, and charges are pending, police said.