Round Lake Park man accidentally shot to death during birthday celebration

A birthday celebration turned tragic early Monday when a Round Lake Park man was fatally shot in the head by accident near Lake Villa, authorities said.

David J. Graham, 20, died shortly after being brought to Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center at 12:45 a.m. Monday with a gunshot wound to the head, Lake County sheriff's police said.

Joey Gonzalez, 19, of the 300 block of Maple Lane in Round Lake, later was charged with involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon stemming from Graham's death. He's being held in the Lake County jail on $300,000 bail, pending a scheduled court appearance Friday.

Authorities say Graham was out celebrating his birthday with Gonzalez and three other adults early Monday when he pulled his vehicle over in the area of West Monaville Road and West Old Monaville Road near Lake Villa. Sheriff's police said Graham and Gonzalez got out and began firing a sawed-off shotgun into the air.

After they returned to the vehicle with Graham driving again and Gonzalez sitting in the back seat with the shotgun, the weapon accidentally was fired, striking the Round Lake Park man in the head, according to sheriff's police.

Graham was moved out of the driver's seat and driven to the outpatient center for medical treatment, authorities said. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Besides charges from the shooting, Gonzalez also is charged with residential burglary for an October 2016 break-in at a home on the 36000 block of North Tara Court in Ingleside. Evidence developed during the death investigation that indicated Gonzalez was involved in the burglary, authorities said.

The others in the vehicle are considered witnesses and are not facing charges, according to sheriff's police.