18-Year-Old Charged in Possible Gang-Related Beating Incident: Police

An investigation into a possible gang-related incident led to the arrest of an 18-year-old Romeoville man on a felony charge of aggravated battery, Romeoville Deputy Police Chief Steve Lucchesi said.

Lucchesi said Manuel S. Gonzalez, 18, of 308 Hemlock, Romeoville, was taken into custody on Friday, Dec. 13, after police linked him to an incident that occurred at 1:06 p.m. on Dec. 1 in the area of Normantown Road and Rogers Avenue.

Gonzalez was charged with aggravated battery/great bodily harm, a Class 3 felony, Lucchesi said. Gonzalez is alleged to have been one of the subjects who attacked a 17-year-old boy with crowbar-like instruments in a possible gang-related incident, Lucchesi said.

Two others—one possibly a juvenile—remain at large. Lucchesi said a warrant has been issued for one of the two other alleged perpetrators, though police are not releasing his name at this juncture.

Lucchesi said the 17-year-old male victim of the beating suffered significant injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

"We were called by people in the area who observed the incident," Lucchesi said. "But by the time we arrived on the scene, the three subjects had left and the victim was lying on the side of the road. We called for an ambulance and started the investigation."

Lucchesi said "there were some statements given by witnesses that corroborated some information that we already knew."

"They gave a vehicle description—and we already knew of the people who drove that type of vehicle," he said.

Gonzalez was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility. His bond was set at $75,000.

Lucchesi said the police department's investigation into the incident is ongoing. He asked anyone with information to call the Romeoville Police Department Investigation's Division (815) 886-7219.