DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Illinois State Police Captain David Keltner announced last week that Judge Alex McGimpsey granted the state’s motion to deny bond for a Chicago man accused of firing a handgun from his car at another vehicle on I-290 during an alleged road rage incident.
Gregory Johnson, 42, appeared in bond court Sunday morning charged with one count of armed habitual criminal (Class X felony) and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm (Class 1 felony).
On Tuesday Aug. 22 at approximately 2:45 p.m., Illinois State Police troopers were dispatched to I-290 and North Avenue in Elmhurst in response to a road rage incident where shots were fired.
It is alleged that the victim, who was driving a grey Nissan Sentra, became involved in a road rage incident with Johnson, who was driving a gold Honda Odyssey minivan, that began when the victim brake-checked Johnson for tailgating him.
It is alleged that at one point during the incident, which lasted approximately four to five miles, Johnson pulled up alongside the victim and displayed a handgun. It is further alleged that upon seeing the gun, the victim attempted to get away from Johnson by exiting the expressway but Johnson followed him and rear-ended the victim.
It is alleged that Johnson, covered his face with a ski mask, then appeared on the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle and fired approximately eight shots from his vehicle into the victim’s vehicle.
Three bullet defects were located on the passenger side of the vehicle near the rear and two additional projectiles/fragments were recovered from the front passenger side floorboard and trunk area. Two shell casings were also recovered from the roadway where the shooting allegedly took place.
On Thursday, Aug. 24, a Berkeley police officer conducted a traffic stop on Johnson’s Honda Odyssey. Johnson was taken into custody at that time.
“In this case, it is alleged that Mr. Johnson, who has multiple felony convictions, opened fire on another motorist after he and his victim became engaged in a five-mile road rage pursuit,” Berlin said. “The type of violent behavior … placed numerous innocent motorists at risk and will most certainly not be tolerated in DuPage County.”
Johnson’s next court appearance is scheduled Monday, Sept. 25 for arraignment in front of Judge Mia McPherson.
