Arrest made in Round Lake Beach girl’s fatal shooting, police say
A suspect in this week’s fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Round Lake Beach girl in her home has been arrested, police said Friday morning.
The suspect is a man who lives a couple blocks from where Valeria Rodriguez was shot Wednesday night, said Chris Covelli, spokesman for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.
Charges are pending.
The suspect was taken into custody after police found a semiautomatic handgun during a search of his home early Friday morning, Covelli said. He already was being questioned by police during the search.
A ballistics test that could indicate if the deadly bullet came from the gun police recovered is expected today, Covelli said.
Rodriguez, an incoming sophomore at Round Lake High School, was shot about 9 p.m. Wednesday while sitting at a dining table in her home on Cherokee Drive.
The bullet that killed Rodriguez was fired outside near the home and went through a window before striking her, police have said.
Authorities don’t believe Rodriguez was targeted.
Round Lake Beach police and the task force are investigating.
An online fundraiser has been created to help Rodriguez’s family cover her funeral expenses. As of Friday afternoon, more than $7,000 had been donated through the GoFundMe platform. Learn more at shorturl.at/5LKy4.
• Daily Herald Senior Writer Mick Zawislak contributed to this report.