Crime
Beach Park Shooting Leaves 24-Year-Old Man Dead, Authorities Investigating
Beach Park, IL – A 24-year-old man was fatally shot in Beach Park on Sunday afternoon in an incident that also left a vehicle and a residence struck by gunfire, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities responded to reports of shots fired at approximately 12:10 p.m. on February 11, 2025, in the 39300 block of Melbourne Court.
According to Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli, a 911 caller reported hearing multiple gunshots and witnessed two Black males, approximately 20-25 years old, fleeing the scene on foot.
Upon arrival, sheriff’s deputies discovered multiple shell casings scattered across the roadway, as well as shattered glass from a vehicle.
Further investigation revealed that a gunshot victim had been transported by private vehicle to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, where he was dropped off at the emergency room.
Despite life-saving efforts, the victim was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival.
Authorities determined that the victim had been a passenger in a parked vehicle on Melbourne Court when unknown suspects opened fire.
The vehicle has been seized by detectives and is currently being processed for forensic evidence.
In addition to the vehicle, a home in the vicinity was also struck by gunfire, though no injuries were reported among its occupants.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office has scheduled an autopsy to confirm the victim’s cause of death.
His identity is being temporarily withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Lake County Sheriff’s detectives are actively investigating the homicide and urge anyone with relevant information to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 847-377-4000.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.