(Lake County, IL) Late afternoon on Monday, May 16, 2022, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed first-degree murder charges against 18-year-old Amireon C. Williams for shooting and killing 14-year-old, Lavon’ta Brown on Sunday, May 15, 2022. 

Williams was arrested last Sunday evening, inside the Waukegan Home Depot shortly after the car he was a passenger in fled the scene and crashed in the parking lot of the store. Williams fled the crash attempting to hide in the store but was taken into custody by Waukegan Police Officers.  

Williams appeared before the Honorable Judge Theodore Potkonjak this morning and is being held on a $3 million bond. Williams also had an outstanding arrest warrant for Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm from a previous incident in Waukegan.  His next court appearance will be on May 19, 2022. 

The North Chicago Fire Department and the North Chicago Police Department responded on Sunday, around 5:15pm, to the 1000 block of Jackson Street in North Chicago for a report of shots fired. When police officers arrived, Brown was critically injured and was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after. 

Investigators from the North Chicago Police Department and the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force said that Brown was walking with his friend when a car, occupied by four passengers, including Amireon Williams, pulled up next two them. Williams was sitting in the rear seat behind the driver when he rolled down his window and began firing shots at Brown. Soon after the shots were fired, the driver of the car fled the scene. 

“This is a senseless and outrageous killing. Our office will seek justice for Lavon’ta, and we have reached out to his family to provide further support. We are also engaging State and local officials as well as our law enforcement partners to pro-actively prevent these tragedies,” said State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart. 

The investigation into this incident continues. Anyone with information should contact the North Chicago Police Department or leave an anonymous tip with Lake County Crime Stoppers at 847-662-2222 or by visiting www.lakecountycrimestoppers.com.