Icy dive fails to net 9mm handgun
By Frank Abderholden fabderholden @stmedianetwork.com February 9, 2012 12:38PM
Libertyville, IL 2/8/12 Libertyville fire department ice divers seached the Des Plaines River just south of Rt. 176 in an attempt to recover a handgun used in a shooting last week in North Chicago. Libertyville firefigher-paramedics Mike Stanek and Mike Pakosta carry the sonar transmitter out into the chilly river. | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 17, 2012 8:11AM
Police and fire department divers searched the Des Plaines River in Libertyville on Feb. 8 for a gun authorities would like to send to the crime lab to see if it matches any wrongdoing.
North Chicago Police Lt. George McClary said authorities recently received information that a gun was discarded in the area. He said his department received an emergency call last week for an accidental shooting when a man shot himself in the hand while “trying to show off.”
When police arrived on the scene, the gun was missing, but they developed information this week the weapon may be in the river off Route 176 in Libertyville.
“First of all, we wanted to get the gun off the street. That’s why we were looking for it,” McClary said. “We also want to send it in and see if it is involved in any other crimes. We couldn’t just ignore it.”
The area is popular with walkers, runners and dog owners because it is at the intersection of the Lake County Forest Preserve’s Des Plaines River Trail that runs along the river north and south through the county, and the North Shore Bike Trail that runs east and west along Route 176 from Lake Forest to Mundelein.
Members of the Libertyville Dive Team were on the scene walking through the water looking for the gun and they also deployed some sonar equipment to help find the weapon, which police described as a 9mm handgun.
The search went on until sunset. No gun was found in a final search on Feb. 9.
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