Ex-con charged with attempted murder of 2 police officers

A man has been charged with the attempted murder of two police officers, including Romeoville officer Dominic Thielmann, who was wounded in a shooting last week during a police investigation of a stolen vehicle.

The $10 million warrant for the arrest of Samer Hernandez, 29, was signed by Judge Dave Carlson.

Hernandez already has been in custody at the Will County jail since May 25. His bond now stands at $15 million.

Hernandez faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, armed habitual criminal, aggravated battery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and reckless discharge of a firearm.

The latter charged alleged that Hernandez had recklessly fired a gun “toward homes in the residential neighborhood” of Lakewood Falls, endangering the bodily safety of the people who live in that area.

Officers were in the area after finding a vehicle that had been reported stolen, Romeoville village officials said. When officers approached the vehicle, a suspect fled on foot, and officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect later identified as Hernandez.

The latest charges were the result of an investigation by the Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force, which is composed of officers from police agencies in Will and Grundy counties.

A criminal complaint from the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Hernandez with trying to kill Thielmann and Romeoville police officer Francisco Garcia by firing a gun at both of them May 25.

Hernandez was further charged with causing Thielmann to suffer injuries in the shooting.

Hernandez also was charged with firing the bullet that entered into a residence in the 200 block of Summerfield Drive.

That bullet went through the living room window of the residence, hit a picture frame in the house and was later found behind a sofa, said Jose Ramirez, who lives at the residence.

Ramirez said he and his family were asleep when they woke up to the sounds of multiple gunshots.

“Which was surprising because we didn’t hear the window shatter or anything,” Ramirez said.

Hernandez was charged with unlawful possession of a rifle and a 9 mm handgun May 25.

Hernandez already is facing charges over the alleged hijacking of a Nissan Murano, a cellphone and a wallet May 20 while armed with a “dangerous knife.”