A 37-year-old Brookfield man was ordered held without bond pending his next court hearing on May 23 after he allegedly shot two juveniles, a 16-year-old and a 12-year-old, during an altercation outside a public library in the Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago on May 16.
The shooting unfolded directly outside the Henry E. Legler Regional Branch Library at 115 S. Pulaski Road at about 5:40 p.m. According to the Cook County prosecutor, Adam Avizius was walking with a female when the 16-year-old walked past.
The juvenile and Avizius reportedly got into a verbal altercation during which the 12-year-old victim, who was not involved, walked by and turned to observe it. The 16-year-old boy allegedly walked up to Avizius and struck him several times, according to the prosecutor, and a firearm fell to the ground.
Avizius reportedly picked up the handgun and pointed it at the 16-year-old, who ran away in the direction of a group of juveniles outside the library. According to the prosecutor, Avizius then pointed the gun at the group and fired five rounds, striking the 16-year-old in the leg and the 12-year-old in the lower back.
As Avizius fled the scene on foot, a group of witnesses chased after him, holding him at a store in the 3900 block of West Madison Street until police arrived at about 5:45 p.m. The handgun fell onto the ground at that location as well, and police reported recovering it, noting that it had a defaced serial number.
Police charged Avizius with aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm. During a hearing on May 19, a Cook County prosecutor called Avizius “clearly a danger to the community” in asking a judge to order him held without bond.
According to the prosecutor, Avizius has an extensive criminal history that includes seven felony convictions dating back to 2008, including for burglary, theft, drug offenses and DUI.
He last served a one-year sentence after being convicted of DUI/driving while revoked. Avizius was last paroled in October 2019.
Avizius’ public defender argued against the no-bond order, saying Avizius had attempted to walk away from the 16-year-old before the juvenile attacked him. However, the judge sided with the prosecutor, who argued that, as a felon, Avizius was not allowed to possess a firearm and that he indiscriminately fired into a group of children.
The aggravated battery charge was for Avizius allegedly shooting the 12-year-old bystander, the prosecutor said. That juvenile underwent surgery and remained in the intensive care unit as of May 19. Avizius was not charged for wounding the 16-year-old, who was shot clear through the leg.
