Brookfield police recovered seven shell casings from a driveway between two buildings in the 4500 block of Maple Avenue early on Jan. 12 after responding to the scene for a call of shots fired, the second such incident in the vicinity of Ehlert Park in the past month.

Police Chief Michael Kuruvilla said no person, structure or object appears to have been struck by any of the rounds. Police have been canvassing the area to obtain evidence and locate witnesses and any surveillance camera video that may exist.

“There are no victims, but there is also no witnesses or security footage yet,” Kuruvilla told the Landmark. “Camera footage would be ideal, but without a witness it puts us in a difficult [investigative] position.”

Kuruvilla said the 911 call came in a 1:51 a.m. and that when police arrived on scene there were no suspects in the area. Police then located seven 9 mm shell casings, all of which appeared to have been fired by the same gun, in a driveway.

One person reportedly told police several people ran from the scene after the gunfire and then ran back and into a four-unit apartment building on the block. Police set up a perimeter around the building and attempted to make contact with the occupants of one of the units, but no one answered.

Kuruvilla said Brookfield police sought a search warrant from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, but that request was denied since there was no evidence directly tying anyone to the actual discharge of the firearm.

That was also the response Brookfield police got a month ago when someone fired more than a dozen gunshots late on Dec. 9 in the 4400 block of Vernon Avenue. A witness reported seeing someone running northbound non Vernon Avenue into a residence just north of Gerritsen Avenue.

The occupants of that residence also were uncooperative, and the witness could not provide much of a description of the person running into the residence and did not see that person either fire or carry a gun.

Police after that incident reported recovering 16 shell casings, also 9 mm rounds, from a lawn area near the southeast corner of the Vernon/Gerritsen intersection.

Kuruvilla said police do not believe at this time that the two incidents are connected.

“All signs point to this being a random, negligent act,” Kuruvilla said.

Anyone with information or access to security camera video can email to pdhelp@brookfieldil.gov.