Man charged in the shooting death of Round Lake Beach 15-year-old

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. — A Round Lake Beach man has been charged in connection to the shooting death of 15-year-old Valeria Rodriguez.

Shorbonia Poole Jr, 19, was charged with one felony count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon Saturday, with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office expecting additional charges to be filed, pending additional forensic information.

Detectives from the Round Lake Beach Police Department (RLB PD) and investigators with the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force (LCMCTF) reviewed video surveillance from several cameras in the area of the shooting, leading them to conduct a search warrant in the 1400 block of Kildeer Drive in Round Lake Beach.

During the search, law enforcement found a pistol and other evidence, and after a preliminary analysis, the pistol showed it is consistent with discharging the shell casings found outside of Rodriguez’s home, a spokesperson with the LCMCTF said.

Poole Jr. was taken into police custody, but it is unclear at what specific point during the investigation he was.

Investigators said Poole Jr. is a resident of the home where the search warrant was executed, and their investigation showed he was in possession of the firearm used in Rodriguez’s homicide.

Rodriguez was shot and killed when a stray bullet flew through her family’s Round Lake Beach home as she ate dinner with her sister Wednesday night.

Earlier this week, investigators said they don’t believe Rodriguez was the intended target and the deadly shooting appeared to be random.

Rodriguez would have been entering her sophomore year of high school, and family members have started a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral expenses from her unexpected death.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office (LCSAO) Victim Support Specialist Team has been activated and in close contact with the Rodriguez family, according to a LCMCTF spokesperson.

Poole Jr. remains in custody, pending an initial court hearing Saturday morning. The LCSAO is filing a petition to detain Poole Jr. in custody, pending trial.

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