An Evergreen Park man, Joshua Cervantes, found himself in a precarious situation after allegedly losing control of his firearm during a fight outside a West Town bar. The incident occurred on October 6 outside Rite Liquors on West Division around 1:48 a.m.
Surveillance video captured Cervantes leaving the bar with three unidentified individuals. A physical altercation ensued on the sidewalk, during which Cervantes lost possession of his firearm. Shockingly, one of his opponents seized the gun and shot Cervantes in the abdomen, causing severe injuries. The trio then fled the scene with Cervantes’ weapon, leaving him wounded and alone.
As Cervantes remains hospitalized, recovering from his gunshot wounds, legal troubles continue to mount against him. Prosecutors have charged him with illegally possessing the firearm, adding to his criminal history. Court records reveal that Cervantes was previously convicted of attempted murder in 2009, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2016, leading to a five-year term.
Now facing a Class X felony charge as an armed habitual criminal, Cervantes will remain in custody until a detention hearing is scheduled after his release from the hospital. This latest incident adds to his troubled past and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of illegal firearm possession and violence.
As the investigation unfolds, Cervantes’ case highlights the dangers of carrying firearms illegally and the potential repercussions that can arise from such actions. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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