Teen held in connection with firing shot at Ottawa park

A boy was picked up Thursday in Naplate on felony charges after Ottawa police investigated a gunshot fired Wednesday night into the air. There were no reported injuries.

Ottawa police fielded a report at 8:43 p.m. Wednesday that an individual had reportedly discharged a single gunshot into the air about 30 minutes before in the area of the lower parking lot of Riverfront Park in the 400 block of Clinton Street.

“Although this area is in proximity to the Lions Club carnival, the single gunshot into the air did not take place at the carnival, where Ottawa police officers are working,” Ottawa police said in a news release sent Thursday. “Ottawa police patrol units responded and secured the area.”

Detectives collected evidence along with witness statements and a video of the gunfire and developed a person of interest.

The boy was found and taken into custody Thursday in the 200 block of 18th Avenue in Naplate. The boy also was wanted on a La Salle County probation violation warrant at the time of the arrest.

The boy was taken to the La Salle County Detention Home on the probation violation warrant along with additional charges of reckless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a person younger than 21, both Class 4 felonies. An adult would face one to three years in prison, but young offenders face a more diverse set of sentencing options.

Additional charges may be pending, as the investigation into the gunfire is ongoing, police said.

A juvenile detention hearing was scheduled Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court.

Police believe the shot to be an isolated incident, but anyone with information about the gunfire is asked to call the Ottawa Police Department Detective Division at 815-433-2131.

Ottawa police were assisted in the investigation by the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office and the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office.