Illinois teen shot in the chest after pointing pellet gun at woman while trying to steal her dog
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A Chicago woman has been arrested and charged after she shot a teenage girl in the chest for trying to steal her dog.
The incident unfolded at the 2300 block of S. Drake on November 29 at approximately 5:45 pm when Araceli Diaz, 21, of Maywood, met the 14-year-old female juvenile to conduct the sale, according to a press release from the Chicago Police Department.
When Diaz told the juvenile the dog would cost her $800, the teen brandished a pellet gun, struck the 21-year-old in the head with it, and attempted to forcibly take the dog without paying for it.
In response, Diaz, who was carrying a handgun herself, took out the firearm and discharged shots at the teen, striking her in the chest.
"We're not sure where they met initially or how they communicated, but all we do know is that the 14-year-old did show up with other intentions and she pulled out a BB gun," said Chicago Police Officer Jose Jara to Fox News.
The press release states that Diaz was found to have a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card (FOID) but not a Concealed Carry License (CCL). She was taken into custody in the 1400 block of S. 57th Ct., Cicero, at around 6:46 pm the same day.
She was subsequently charged with one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon, but not for the shooting as it was considered an act of self-defense. Her bond was set at $5,000 and she made her first appearance in court on Sunday, December 1.
The teenager was transported to Stroger Hospital to treat her gunshot wounds and then charged with attempted armed robbery. She is scheduled to make an appearance in juvenile court to face the charges on December 9.
"A BB gun can appear like a real gun and to anyone out there it's gonna appear like a real gun, to the police, and to any individual, and if someone's carrying and they have their own CCL they may use their own gun to defend themselves," Jara said.