Watch CBS News

Four Suspects In Shooting Of Niles North Students Indicted

SKOKIE, Ill. (STMW) -- The four 19-year-old suspects charged with first degree murder and attempted murder in the shooting death and injury of two Niles North High School students late last month have been indicted by a Grand Jury, it was announced Tuesday, Oct. 28 in Cook County Circuit Court in north suburban Skokie.

Jeremy Ly of Skokie, and Chicagoans Dzevad Avdic, Myles Hughes and Nicholas Smith briefly appeared in court Oct. 28 before Judge Marcia B. Orr. All four are scheduled to be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 10 in Skokie, the Pioneer Press is reporting.

Police say they are responsible for the Sept. 28 shooting death of Niles North senior Maxwell Gadau and the serious injury of a female Niles North senior who survived the incident.

According to prosecutors, the shooting occurred on the 9200 block of Kedvale Avenue after five males had a hand in luring the female victim into her vehicle for a supposed drug sale. The intention was to steal from her.

What was supposed to be an easy robbery, however, turned into murder and attempted murder, prosecutors say.

The four in custody are not believed to be the shooter, according to authorities.

Skokie Police remain convinced the shooter was a 17-year-old male from Chicago who was arrested days after the other four suspects. But they released the teenager within 24 hours when the Cook County State's Attorney did not approve charges.

Police are still hoping to obtain more evidence to file charges against him.

According to Assistant State's Attorney Robert Heilingoetter, Avdic came up with the robbery plan and targeted the female victim with the help of Ly.

He called the victim, posing as someone else, to arrange for the purchase of marijuana. Avdic and Ly agreed that it would be an even easier score if there was a gun, prosecutors say.

Both Avdic and Ly are Niles North graduates but neither entered the female victim's vehicle the night of Sept. 28, prosecutors say. It was Hughes and the alleged shooter who met with the victims face-to-face. The female victim had brought Gadau along.

The four suspects in custody have been held without bond. They appeared in court Oct. 28 initially together and handcuffed for security reasons.

But Orr ordered that their handcuffs be removed, citing a Supreme Court decision stemming from the 1969 trial of the "Chicago Seven," defendants who were charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot during protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Once their handcuffs were removed Oct. 28, the suspects appeared before Orr only one at a time.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.