Man pleads guilty to shooting friend in Tinley Park

A man pleaded guilty to recklessly shooting a gun in the face of his friend last year in Tinley Park.

On Nov. 17, Robert Cannon, 19, of the 8400 block of Brookpoint Court, Tinley Park, pleaded guilty to one count of felony reckless conduct in connection with the Oct. 25, 2020, incident.

Prosecutors said Cannon – while acting in a reckless manner – caused great bodily harm to Jayson Petrulis while holding a Smith & Wesson, firing the gun at close range to Petrulis’ face.

A man reported to the police on Oct. 25, 2020, that his son accidentally shot his friend, who was found in the bedroom with a single gunshot wound to the face, Tinley Park police officials said in an Oct. 28, 2020, news release.

The friend was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox and transferred to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for treatment, police said.

Cannon, along with several of his friends, were hanging out in a bedroom when Cannon pointed what he thought was an unloaded gun at his friend and fired one round, police said.

Prosecutors dropped three other reckless conduct charges and a charge of possession of a firearm without a firearm owner’s identification card.

Will County State’s Attorney spokeswoman Carole Cheney said a plea agreement was reached by the parties with full knowledge and approval of the victim. She said Cannon’s plea was entered based on the totality of the circumstances and evidence in the matter.

Will County Judge Sarah Jones sentenced Cannon to two years of probation.

Cannon was given credit for 10 days already served in jail. Jones ordered him to complete a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with any recommended treatments.

Petrulis filed a lawsuit against Cannon’s parents, Alvin and Latonya Cannon, on Nov. 16, 2020. The lawsuit accused 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 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’ 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.”

The lawsuit was dismissed March 8 following a settlement between both parties, court records show.

Petrulis’ attorney, Greg Ladle, and the Cannons’ attorney, Raymond Fabricius, did not immediately respond to a call regarding the lawsuit. Attempts to reach Alvin and Latonya Cannon by phone were unsuccessful.