Highland Park police are investigating the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy Sunday as homicide, a press release said.
Officers responded to a report of a person shot in the 2300 block of Green Bay Road around 11:30 am. They discovered the victim and took him to Highland Park Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police set up a perimeter around the crime scene to try to locate the gunman, who was described by witnesses as a man dressed all in black and riding a bicycle. However, further investigation revealed that he probably fled on foot.
A police K-9 followed the gunman’s scent but lost him in a nearby roadway. Police have enlisted the help of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force to assist in the investigation, the press release said.
Police said preliminary details indicate the shooting was targeted and not random, so they believe there is no known threat to the community.
Before the shooting, police said, the 16-year-old was walking on the sidewalk when he was approached by the gunman. They had a brief conversation before the suspect grabbed a firearm and shot the victim.
