'Disturbing' West Chicago Shooting Yields Attempted Murder Charge

WEST CHICAGO, IL — A DeKalb man is being held without bond after police say he shot a stranger in the face in West Chicago on Jan. 28. Ahmad Steele, 34, was charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with what police are calling a "random" incident.

Police say Steele pulled up to Mapei Corporation at 530 Industrial Dr. just before 8 p.m. and parked his SUV a few spots away from the nearest car. Steele is accused of getting out of his car and walking up to the nearby car before firing a shotgun into the driver's side, shooting a man in the face.

Steele is then accused of going back to his car, returning to the other vehicle, raising his gun again and then fleeing in his SUV.

The man who was shot is currently in critical condition at local hospital.

Steele was stopped by police in Naperville Feb. 6 and taken into custody. On Feb. 9, police conducted a search warrant of Steele's home and found a shotgun and shotgun shells. Police say they also discovered that Steele had recently searched the internet for unsolved murders and homicides in DuPage County.

"The allegations against Mr. Steele are extremely disturbing,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. "This unwarranted alleged random attack against an unsuspecting, innocent man, whose life has been forever changed, will be strenuously prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Steele is set to appear in court again on March 8.