720 ILCS 5/24-1.2 – Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm
This law makes it a serious crime to shoot a gun toward people, cars, or buildings, especially when they are occupied.
This law says that it is illegal to shoot a gun toward or into places or people where someone could get hurt. It becomes even more serious if the shooting involves police officers, firefighters, teachers, or happens near a school.
(a) A person commits aggravated discharge of a firearm when he or she knowingly or intentionally does any of the following:
- Shoots a gun into or at a building that they know or should know has people inside, from outside the building.
- Shoots a gun toward another person or a car that they know or should know has someone inside.
- Shoots a gun toward a police officer, community volunteer, correctional worker, or firefighter while they are doing their job, or to stop or punish them for doing their job.
- Shoots a gun toward a car with a police officer, a person helping an officer, correctional worker, or firefighter doing their job, or to stop or punish them for doing their job.
- Shoots a gun toward emergency medical workers doing their job, or to stop or punish them for doing their job.
- Shoots a gun toward a car with emergency medical workers doing their job, or to stop or punish them for doing their job.
- Shoots a gun toward a teacher or school employee who is on school grounds, near a school, or in a school building.
- Shoots a gun toward an emergency management worker doing their job, or to stop or punish them for doing their job.
- Shoots a gun toward a car with an emergency management worker doing their job, or to stop or punish them for doing their job.
(b) Sentence: Shooting a gun as described in (a)(1) or (a)(2) is a Class 1 felony.
If it happens at or within 1,000 feet of a school or school activity, it becomes a Class X felony (the most serious type).
Shooting as described in (a)(3) through (a)(9) is also a Class X felony, and the prison time must be between 10 and 45 years.
(c) Some terms used in this law mean:
“Emergency medical services personnel” includes all ambulance crew members, drivers, or pilots.
“School” includes public or private elementary and high schools, community colleges, colleges, and universities.
“School related activity” means any sport, social, academic, or other event sponsored or supported by a school.
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