Third man arrested in connection with Marengo shooting, robbery

A man who police said was involved in a February shooting and robbery at a Circle K gas station was arrested Tuesday, the day before police say they also arrested the alleged driver.

Walter R. Moran turned himself in on felony charges Tuesday at the Marengo Police Department, officials said. Moran, of the 5100 block of West 24th Avenue, Cicero, is charged in McHenry County court with armed robbery, armed violence, aggravated battery, armed robbery, burglary, felon in possession of a firearm and theft. The charges stem from a Feb. 24 robbery and shooting that injured a Marengo Circle K employee.

A prior 2017 felony conviction out of Cook County barred Moran from possessing a firearm at the time of the shooting, according to a Marengo police criminal complaint.

Moran is accused of shooting the Circle K employee in the leg during the robbery, court records show. Another man, 26-year-old Antonio Pedrote, was arrested in May in connection with the robbery.

The man accused of being the driver of the vehicle involved in the robbery, Gregory Garner Jr., 27, of the 200 block of East Union Avenue in Wheaton, was arrested on a warrant Wednesday, according to a news release Wednesday evening. Garner is charged with armed robbery, armed violence, aggravated battery, burglary and theft. He is currently in custody at Kane County Jail and his bond is set at $150,000.

Pedrote is charged with armed robbery, armed violence, aggravated battery, being an armed habitual criminal, armed violence, burglary, theft and being a felon in possession of a weapon. He has pleaded not guilty to each count and is due back in court on Oct. 27. Pedrote remained at the McHenry County Jail Wednesday on a $500,000 bond.

Together, Moran and Pedrote are accused of robbing the State Street Circle K of $175, shooting an employee in the process, according to court documents.

The employee suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening. He was treated at the scene by the Marengo Fire and Rescue District personnel and flown to Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford.

Weeks later, the employee recounted the incident during an interview with the Northwest Herald, noting that he was “miserable” after the shooting, but grateful for the community support he has received.

The gun was about an inch away from the employee’s leg when the shooter pulled the trigger, the employee said.

Officers with the Aurora Police Department said at the time they thought that a string of convenience store robberies from late February in their city might be connected to the Marengo robbery.