A report of several shots being fired Thursday night led to a number of criminal charges filed Friday in Racine County Circuit Court against a 17-year-old Racine man.
Christopher L. Anderson faces two felony charges of endangering safety with the reckless use of a firearm, a felony charge of first-degree recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon and a felony charge of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person younger than 18.
Anderson is also charged by the Racine County District Attorney’s Office with misdemeanor counts of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person younger than 18 and contributing to the delinquency of a child.
The felony charges carry a total fine of $85,000 and 38 years, six months in prison, while the misdemeanors carry a fine of $30,000 and 27 months in county jail.
According to the criminal complaint:
Officers with the Racine Police Department responded to the 1300 block of Marquette for a report of several shots being fired. Spent shell casings were littered on the roadway, and it appeared as though a gunfight had happened, police stated.
A vehicle had been struck by two rounds, and two homes had been struck at least once.
Police apprehended five juveniles at the scene, including the defendant. Police also found a 9mm handgun in the backpack worn by a 12-year-old boy.
Video from one of the homes showed the defendant and four other juveniles fleeing east before they were detained by police. Anderson can be seen drawing a concealed handgun from his waistband, aiming it north and then firing.
The boy who had the handgun in his possession told his mother during a phone call that Anderson had put it there before it was found by police.
Anderson is due back in court June 28 for a 9 a.m. preliminary hearing.
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