As a follow-up to an original release dated, January 16, 2023:
Another suspect has been charged related to a home invasion involving a shooting which occurred in January 2023. On Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 7:37 PM, St. Charles Police officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Walnut Drive for a report of shots fired inside of an apartment. Upon arrival, officers arrived to an active scene and located several people in the apartment, including a 26 year-old-man of Lindenhurst identified as James Gherardini, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest area. As officers arrived Gherardini was being dragged out of the apartment by another person, 26-year-old Panagiotis Koutroumbis, also of Lindenhurst.
Gherardini was treated on scene by St. Charles Fire Department and transported to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Investigators learned that Gherardini, Koutroumbis, and a third person, now identified as Jose L Melendez, entered the apartment through an unlocked sliding glass door. They reportedly zip-tied the hands of several occupants in the apartment and demanded items from them. Investigators further learned that a 25-year old St. Charles man had at the time of the incident received an open line call from the cell phone of a resident inside the apartment. This individual then went to the apartment and upon arrival he was confronted by the armed offenders, at least one of which who then fired at him. This individual then also brandished a firearm and fired toward the offenders. This individual received a gunshot wound in the abdomen and was subsequently driven to the hospital prior to police arrival. It is believed that during that exchange of gunfire, Gheradini was struck in the chest and fatally wounded.
Koutrombis was charged in January with:
- Attempted 1st Degree Murder
- 2 counts of Home Invasion
- Aggravated Unlawful Restraint
Melendez is believed to have fled from the scene prior to police arrival. Investigators worked to secure an arrest warrant for Melendez. Melendez was located on Wednesday October 25, 2023 and taken in to custody by the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.
Melendez is charged with:
- Attempted 1st Degree Murder
- 2 counts of Home Invasion
- Aggravated Unlawful Restraint
- Unlawful Use or Possession of a Weapon or Ammunition by a Convicted Felon
The charges against Koutroumbis and Melendez are not proof of guilt. They are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
