(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Anti-violence activists are outraged that a Woodridge man who travelled to Englewood in the middle of the night last summer and allegedly fired a shotgun into a park was given probation.
Alexander Podgorny was arrested early Aug. 4 near Moran Park at 57th and Racine. According to CWB Chicago, surveillance cameras recorded a man get out of a minivan, fire once into the park and get back into the vehicle.
Police reportedly stopped Podgorny at the park and found several guns on him, including an AR-15-style rifle, and ammunition. He ultimately was charged with multiple felony counts of unlawful use of a weapon.
"He came inside that park on public land and fired that gun," activist Andrew Holmes said at a Friday news conference. "Also, he had an AR-15, he had a fully loaded gun in his pocket, he had other guns that were fully loaded inside of that van, he had 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
"The FBI and the terrorist squad were called in on this because he had notes about mass shootings. The disturbing thing about this is that this guy was let go."
Judge Thomas Byrne ordered substance abuse treatment and a mental health evaluation as part of Podgorny's probation. He spent about a year in jail awaiting trial before reaching the plea deal.
Darryl Smith, an Englewood resident, questioned whether a Black defendant – Podgorny is white – would have gotten that kind of relatively lenient sentence.
Mike Airhart was also critical of Podgorny's probation deal: "This man is at home, eating a Bic Mac."
WBBM Newsradio asked the State's Attorney's office for comment.
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