[El Sucio]

Lake Forest is a wealthy suburb north of Chicago.

One of its many amenities is a 44-acre, off-leash dog park (https://www.lcfpd.org/places-to-go/off-leash-dog-area/prairie-wolf/). Last year, Mrs. MAG40 and I stayed with friends who live nearby. Over the course of our stay, we visited this park with them and their dogs several times.

Earlier this week, two men, ages 23 and 35, got into an argument at the park regarding their dogs. The altercation was captured on yet-to-be-released cellphone video. News reports say the 23-year-old was the aggressor who repeatedly shoved the 35-year-old, who returned the shoves. At some point, the 35-year-old retreated to the parking lot without his dog and retrieved an unknown object from his vehicle.

The 23-year-old, who followed the 35-year-old into the parking lot, continued to push, then repeatedly slap, the older man. The 35-year-old subsequently drew a firearm and fired one round, center-mass, into the 23-year-old.

Police and paramedics were summoned by witnesses. The wounded man, according to one report, was hospitalized in critical condition. The shooter was charged with aggravated battery and is being held without bail until trial.

https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2025/06/04/judge-denies-pre-trial-release-to-gunman-accused-of-shooting-victim-at-lake-forest-dog-park/

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My initial reactions are:

1. It's too bad cooler heads didn't prevail and both men didn't walk away before becoming physical.
2. Failing that, the 35-year-old should have retreated to his vehicle with his dog and driven away.
3. If he couldn't retrieve his dog, the 35-year-old should have retreated to his vehicle, locked himself inside, and summoned police.
4. Had the 35-year-old been carrying pepper spray, a quick dose likely would have taken the starch out of the 23-year-old, discouraging him from continuing his attack.
5. If he survives, the 23-year-old is unlikely to ask anyone ever again, "What are you going to do about it?"

Idiots both.

The 35 year old retreated to his car and retrieved his weapon.
The 23 year old following him to his car and continued to assault him
The 23 year old got what he deserved.
How much a beating do you have to take before you defend yourself.
The 35 year old retreated and removed himself from this the initial confrontation.
The fact that this is in Communist Chicago with the strictest gun laws in the US, the 35 years old is denied bail and facing aggravated batter charges.
I don't see any changes on the 23 year old instigator. Un****ing believable.

Another Democrat city full of anti-gun liberals.

 

[RichardB]

Slapping? I wonder if this was a lover's quarrel?

 

[JohnnyE]

Slapping? I wonder if this was a lover's quarrel?

Slap and tickle?

 

[Z71bill]

The shooter did retreat - other guy followed him.

Stand your ground wouldn't apply even in a state that had it because the shooter retreated.

Not saying he still isn't in deep dodo but him retreating helps him and the other guy following him also helps the shooter.

The one thing really important -

Did he go to his car get his gun and was on the way back -
Or
Did he go get the gun and the other guy still attacked him.

I don't know - so I am asking -

If someone is slapping me around and at some point I have had enough - so I pull my gun and say -

Leave me alone or I am going to shoot you!

If the person then attacks me - does it help me - the fact the attacker knew I was armed and was informed he would be shot but attacked me again anyway.

As opposed to me just pulling my gun and shooting.

What even happened to the don't pull your gun out unless you are ready to use it?

 

[shoresroad]

Were the dogs OK?

That's the important question!

 

[hillrunner77]

Can we have a photo of the shooting victim, the one who allegedly instigated things?

 

[happyguy]

I cannot imagine going to an “off leash” dog park without pepper spray. I don’t even take my little yappy dog on an onleash walk around the neighborhood without pepper spray.

 

[bdinigm]

Using a gun against someone slapping and pushing is probably not going to end well for the shooter.

Even in Ma the shooting would have been justified under stand your ground. The problem with Chicago very few can obtain a CCW and if he carried that illegally then he would be in jail for that charge alone. In Ma and Fl where I have carry permits you are allowed to defend yourself against assult which this clearly was. 23 and 35 years old doesn't come into play but if the older guy was in his late 60's I doupt he would have been arrested if he carried legally.

 

[MidOhio]

May have went to his car for a cell phone camera.

Changes things a bit. Id love to see a pic or vid of the victim.

 

[Supersquatch]

Dog parks are not good places to take dogs in the first place.
I would never go to one if I were paid.
It isn't the dogs so much but the idiot dog owners. Most can barely control their dogs in private,throw in other dogs and people and you've got conflicts just waiting to happen.

 

[TacticalSpeed]

Definitely just take your dog and go back to your car and leave or take your dog go back to your car and call the police and report the assault.

Going back to your car, while leaving your dog, to get a gun and go back and shoot the guy is definitely not the right decision. It's time to grow up folks. These types of people are the ones that give us folks that carry all the negative stigma

 

[fredj338]

The 35 year old retreated to his car and retrieved his weapon.
The 23 year old following him to his car and continued to assault him
The 23 year old got what he deserved.
How much a beating do you have to take before you defend yourself.
The 35 year old retreated and removed himself from this the initial confrontation.
The fact that this is in Communist Chicago with the strictest gun laws in the US, the 35 years old is denied bail and facing aggravated batter charges.
I don't see any changes on the 23 year old instigator. Un****ing believable.

Another Democrat city full of anti-gun liberals.

Being slapped or shoved is not a beating nor life threatening event. Maybe humiliating but not worth 5y in jail for adw.

 

[fredj338]

The b**** had it coming. He committed an assault and battery on the older victim and continued it after the victim retreated. No sympathy for the attacker (younger guy), he's lucky to be above ground. An armed society is a polite society, and I suspect that the victim was arrested and charged because of his minority status and long hair. Agreed however that a good dose of pepper spray or taser might have been a better solution in the eyes of lib-law.
Personally I am in my 70s with heart and lung issues and taking repeated slaps just isnt in the cards and neither is engaging in that sort of thing. Don't follow me and continue when I retreat.

No he was arrested because he shot an unarmed guy slapping him. Stand your ground doesn't over ride imminent death or severe injury. Non lethal response is appropriate or just pound the crap out of the 23y old.