SYCAMORE – A DeKalb man arrested by Sycamore police Tuesday after allegedly shooting airsoft gun pellets at pedestrians and passing vehicles now faces a potential prison sentence if convicted.
According to a Tuesday news release from Sycamore police, Jack E. Carpenter, 18, of the 1400 block of Legacy Drive, DeKalb, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony; reckless conduct, a Class A misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor. If convicted of aggravated battery, the most serious offense, Carpenter could face up to five years in prison.
The Sycamore Police Department began an investigation at 2:03 p.m. Tuesday, according to the release, after getting reports of a driver in a dark SUV going around town shooting airsoft pellets at pedestrians and passing vehicles. Sycamore Dep. Police Chief Mike Anderson said the reports came from the a block on West State Street and multiple blocks on DeKalb Avenue.
A least one person suffered minor injuries as a result of the shooting spree, Anderson said. He said no incidents were reported near any schools.
“During the investigation, the Sycamore Police were able to obtain cell phone video showing the suspect’s face, the make and model of the vehicle, along with a clear view of the license plate affixed to the suspect vehicle,” police wrote in a Tuesday news release. “Sycamore Police began searching the area based on three separate reported incidents in which all the citizens described the same suspect vehicle.”
About a half hour later, police found the SUV, arrested Carpenter, and took him to the police department.
According to DeKalb County court documents, Carpenter allegedly was the driver and there were two males involved in the incidents. Court documents did not specify whether the second male was an adult or minor.
One of the people shot with the pellet gun was a woman, a postal carrier, in the 1000 block of West State Street in Sycamore.
“[The woman] was struck in the head,” according to court records.
Another man claimed his vehicle was shot at with an airsoft gun as well and he managed to grab the license plate of the SUV, according to court documents.
Carpenter was housed at the DeKalb County Jail on Tuesday awaiting a court hearing, according to Sycamore police. He was present in court during virtual bond call Wednesday afternoon from the jail via Zoom.
DeKalb County Judge Marcy Buick set a $15,000 recognizance bond for Carpenter in court Wednesday, meaning Carpenter would be released on his signature. She also ordered Carpenter to have no contact with any of the alleged victims in the case and for him to be placed on electronic monitoring device.
“He may go to school,” Buick said in court Wednesday. “That will be on the electronic home monitoring order. All movement will be at the permission of the deputy.”
Buick appointed DeKalb County Public Defender Tom McCulloch to represent Carpenter on Wednesday.
DeKalb County Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Hodder acknowledged Carpenter has no criminal history relevant to the new charges. He said that pretrial services at the courthouse determined that Carpenter is at low risk for re-offense and releasing Carpenter from jail would be appropriate.
“The state would like to point out that there is a concern for the safety of the public, seeing how he shot a [pellet] gun hitting one postal carrier and shooting at a vehicle that was driving by,” Hodder told Buick in court Wednesday. “And we would stand by the pretrial services report.”
McCulloch said Carpenter lives with his parents, has no money of his own and is a current student at DeKalb High School.
“So we are asking for his release on recognizance,” McCulloch said.
Sycamore Police are seeking additional information on Tuesday’s incidents and believe there are more victims, according to the release. Anyone with information or who was a victim is encouraged to contact the Sycamore Police Department at 815-895-3435.
The case remains under investigation.
Carpenter is due back in court 9 a.m. Feb. 22 before DeKalb County Judge Philip Montgomery via Zoom.
This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 with additional information following Carpenter’s bond call hearing that afternoon.
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