Alleged victim of Tinley Park shooting sues defendant's parents: records

The alleged victim in a Tinley Park shooting incident is suing the parents of the teen who has been charged with recklessly firing a gun at him, court records show.

On Monday, an attorney for Jayson Petrulis filed a lawsuit against Alvin and Latonya Cannon, the parents of Robert Cannon, 18, over a shooting in the 8400 block of Brookpoint Court that the lawsuit claimed left Petrulis with severe injuries.

Robert Cannon has been indicted on charges of reckless conduct and a charge of possession of a firearm without a firearm owner’s identification card in connection with the Oct. 25 incident, court records show.

Robert Cannon pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The indictment against Robert Cannon alleged he acted in a reckless manner and caused great bodily harm to Petrulis when he pointed a pistol at his face and pulled the trigger.

Petrulis’ lawsuit accused Robert Cannon’s parents of negligence for “allowing their underage son to have access to and to be able to use the firearm while in an intoxicated state.”

The lawsuit claimed Robert Cannon pointed the pistol at Petrulis “without cause or justification” and that the gun “unexpectedly discharged a round” that struck Petrulis in the head, causing “severe and extensive and permanent injuries.”

Petrulis had to undergo “numerous surgeries” after he suffered injuries to his “face, head and upper body which were, are and continue to be painful and disabling in nature,” according to the lawsuit.

Petrulis’ lawsuit further claimed Robert Cannon had “prior problems and troubles” and that his parents “knew or should have known that their son had a propensity for irrational behavior and reckless conduct.”

Robert Cannon was initially charged with reckless conduct, reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated battery after his arrest on Oct. 26 but a grand jury did not return an indictment on the reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated battery charges.

Petrulis reportedly told the police the incident was an accident, according to Will County State’s Attorney spokeswoman Carole Cheney.