A Tinley Park woman has been charged with making threats to disrupt July 4 fireworks demonstrations in communities such as Orland Park and Tinley Park, the same day that a gunman killed seven people and wounded several others at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park.
Jeanette Larue, 50, was charged with disorderly conduct Friday after allegedly sending a series of text messages to her nephew July 4 threatening to attack fireworks displays in Orland Park and neighboring Tinley Park as well as Lockport and Joliet, Tinley Park police said Friday.
Advertisement
She is due to appear in Cook County Circuit Court in Bridgeview Aug. 12, police said in a statement.
Police said they were able to determine before the fireworks shows in Orland Park and Tinley Park that the threats were hollow, and that there was no danger to the public.
Advertisement
Tinley Park police said that Larue’s nephew contacted them after receiving the text messages and that Larue admitted to sending the messages but denied sending any threatening messages.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the Chicago area were on alert to possible attacks to Fourth of July events after a man, later identified as 21-year old Bobby Crimo III, allegedly unleashed a hail of gunfire onto people watching an Independence Day parade in Highland Park.
Some communities opted to cancel other July 4 events, such a fireworks shows, but displays continued in southwest suburbs such as Orland Park and Tinley Park, with decisions coming after the suspected shooter was taken into custody and concerns about a possible broader threat discounted.
In Orland Park, a fireworks display took place as planned in Centennial Park and a show organized at McCarthy Park by the Tinley Park Park District also went ahead.
mnolan@tribpub.com
