A 27-year-old Naperville man has been arrested in connection with a shooting outside of a downtown Naperville establishment last Saturday evening, according to a joint press release from the Naperville Police Department and the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office.
On March 11, 2023, at approximately 11:35 p.m., officers responded to a call in downtown Naperville regarding a patron who was causing a disturbance when asked to leave an establishment on Jefferson Avenue. While officers were speaking to employees of the establishment, they were alerted to gun shots at the back of the building. Officers responded to a parking lot behind the building where they found a male with a gunshot wound to his right leg.
An investigation into the shooting led to the suspect. It is alleged that the suspect, the victim and another man were out together that evening and left the establishment together. The three men entered a car, after which a verbal argument began. The men then exited the car and the suspect retrieved a gun that was inside the car. The suspect then allegedly shot the victim in the leg and fled the scene.
On Thursday, Judge Joshua Dieden issued a $1 million full cash arrest warrant for the suspect. Barnett was taken into custody Thursday evening without incident.
On Friday, Judge Michael Reidy granted the State’s motion to deny bond for the suspect, who is charged with one count of Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony), one count of Aggravated Battery – Discharge of a Firearm (Class X Felony) and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 2 Felony).
“Opening fire in downtown Naperville on a Saturday night, as alleged against [the suspect], demonstrates an absolute disregard for public safety and contempt for the rule of law,” DuPage County State’s attorney Bob Berlin said. “This type of violent crime is extremely serious and will most certainly not be tolerated in DuPage County. In addition to allegedly shooting another man in the leg, [the suspect’s] alleged actions endangered the life of not only the victim in this case, but also the lives of innocent residents enjoying a night out.”
