The 2nd to last question posed in this well-written piece is: "will these boys be allowed back at school when it resumes?" Are you serious? I have only been living out here for a year but can figure this one out on my own. I got a ticket for parking on the street, in front of my house overnight...oh yeah, I'm sure the Village will totally welcome them back into the HS's general popoulation given how mellow they are known to be with "rules" around here. Maybe they will even be featured in next years DFHS Prom article that the Patch puts out. Sorry, can't stop laughing here...see you in homeroom kids (i mean adults).

As a parent I understand the emotions by all and I really feel bad for the families. The situation has been one that has been building over the years and I can't dispute one item said about the 2 kids involved.
I think the real kicker is once you all find out where the gun was stolen from ? You will understand how bad it really is for these guys !!

I think the question of will they be accepted back into DFHS is interesting, to say the least. These guys did not steal a piece of candy at the local store. They allegedly committed a serious crime with a weapon. If found guilty, I would think their classmates will be long into their careers before these "kids" get out of prison.

Innocent until proven guilty...is still the law.

If a gun were stolen from a Deerfield residence prior to the event...as a parent and resident of Deerfield...I sure would have liked to have known this.

There is no surgarcoating this crime......knowing these two boys.....jail is not the answer for them....

test

The gun owner failed to secure the firearm. Law requires that a gun must have a functioning trigger lock that prevents firing or be kept in a safe. If a child found the gun, the gun owner is in a heap 'o' you know what.
Yes. We will find out where the gun came from.

More parents that are the problem......wake up, cut the crap.

While I agree and have commented that the actions at this point are alleged and acknowledge that they will have their day in court where people with more information than I will pass judgment. I simply find it amazing that an armed entry into a home finds so many sympathetic, understanding and the poor confused kids’ comments. This was not some minor incident and we are most fortunate that nobody on either side was harmed. Is it because these poor misguided kids are from Deerfield and not North Chicago or Waukegan? I wonder if some alleged gang members from another suburb were in the same situation, how many people would be sympathetic, understanding and feel that alleged armed entry and robbery was just kids being kids. Confusing to me and I also wonder how many faced with armed entry into their home would immediately think, oh poor confused kid’s, maybe I can just sit them down with some cookies and milk.

At some point this is more than likely that drugs are involved. I am sure the DF&HP Police are looking at this.
Where the gun came from IS important.
NRA apologists aside.

I agree with everyone...I too know one of the "adults" charged with this crime and the family. I would have thought after that Homecoming tradgey we would have come together as a community with the high school and the police department and do more. While this is shocking and everyone is saying this couldn't happen here...it did. As I have stated before, this is also a mental health issue! The "adults" need additional help! We as community members, educators, parents, etc, really need to listen to conversations, look at facebook pages and TALK to the children. They always tell stuff even without meaning to. Remember the only way to stop the problem is to take action! Everyone knows that the drugs are sold at the following places, the fence by the high school in the back, the skate park by the library, and of course Walgreens parking lot. Let's start being more aware and watch for changes etc. Thanks for the opinion piece...I am sure when the trial occurs we will know where this loaded shot gun came from!

Just read the letter, then project it on to a city parent who deals with this every day!

Ronnie
Yes it matters where the gun came from
If it was used in other incidents
Any investigation would be incomplete if this was not found out. You see THE POLICE ARE PROFESSIONALS
not shoot from the hip amateurs

You commit the crime--you serve the time. A good life lesson for these idiots.. I have a better idea. Let them serve their time in prison until their 18th birthday--then place them in the Military where they will get some badly needed discipline & structure in their suburban lives. It will do them good as they enter adulthood...

I am sure there may be a half dozen parents whose kids hang out with these youths that are saying "what if my child was there. it not like it was 3 a.m. but at 7am its a new day and curfew is done for the day. I learned of one today.

It can be a good lesson to our entitled populous. You too can be entitled to prison. Unfortunately, not as good of a prison thart you get for multimillion dollar Ponzie schemes or being a corrupt governor.

What's wrong with Deerfield and our country? At 7 in the morning, I was working at a bakery. The Patch is loaded with accounts of drugs swirling around Deerfield and now a loaded gun in the hands of teenagers in a stranger's house, something is amiss. Shortly after a young man massacred dozens in Colorado, this home invasion is simply another piece of the American tragedy. Bluntly, America has become on the one hand a status-achievement-wealth reality show while on the other hand, the opportunity to succeed is dwindling away. It seems that our kids will all be working for McDonalds at $7.35 per hour. Are drugs, guns, theft and crime the only way to succeed? America seems to be learning from ghetto criminals, Wall Street types and also Washington politicians who waste our money on illegal wars that benefit the defense industry. I feel very bad for all involved here, especially these kids and their parents. 6-30 Class X is a long time for 17 year olds, their parents and grand-parents. Maybe at 17 there is a chance for rehabilitation for the two and maybe our country can figure out how to provide a sane method of spreading out our great wealth so that our future is not so bleak for kids. The prosecutors hold the key to these kids's futures, charging them with a lesser crime and mandatory counseling may be the answer. Prison may keep them off the street for years, but are they hardened beyond help, I hope not.

Who cares about this random person's opinion? Why not interview the victim? Then they can really express their sadness and shock

Not sure why you feel so bad for these "kids". Being tried as adults would indicate that these are not little kids. We have seen the recent news from Colorado and Wisconsin. The media always questions why this was not spotted sooner to avoid these senseless tragic events that negatively affect so many innocent lives.

Fortunately, they caught these guys before something tragic happened. If found guilty of armed entry, remove them from the community for whatever the law allows just as we would want for any such intrusion and violation committed by someone from outside the community.

I can only imagine the pubic outcry if these were two "kids" from N Chicago. There would be none of this, the poor kids. Will they be accepted back this Fall in HS? Perhaps they just missed a therapy session? Poor kids.

from what i hear in the local rumor mill, the "stolen" gun was actually provided by a "friend" of these two young men, taken from the "friends" father.

Come on HPPD finish the investigation.

Again, why does it matter, for the purpose of the prosecution of these 2 thugs where they got the gun they used in their home invasion. I am sure, for other reasons the HPPD has already followed up on that, but it is immaterial to the conviction of these 2 for aggravated burglary.

I guess everyone writing to this blog never made mistakes in their lives or never exceeds the speed limit or has never ever driven drunk, which threatens others just like these two did that morning. What good will prison do other than make teens more bitter, more resentful and more prone to future crimes? I'm saying, if there is hope for rehabilitation without punishment, why not go that route?

Lou:

We have laws that provide consequences for driving over the speed limit. We have laws that handle DUI's and we also have laws for committing a crime with a weapon. If convicted, they will not get a traffic ticket and pay thier $150. Nor will they get their Drivers License Suspended. Rather, you go to jail for state prescribed minimums. This is a SERIOUS CRIME not some prank.

Lou,
I have, in my youth, driven drunk. I have exceeded the speed limit, even recently. However, I have never, ever, considered pointing a loaded gun at anyone or threatening anyone with a loaded gun, or considered breaking in to someone else's home, even as a joke (not funny at all).

These 2 kids got to where they are now because some how they grew up (or didn't) without any positive values or morals. It is ridiculous to compare their conduct to even serious traffic offenses. Their acts entail an element of intent not present in the traffic offenses. Living a life with a lack of consequences is probably how they came to where they are today.

How would you feel if you were the home owner who was violated and had to stare down the barrel of that rifle, not knowing if the invader was going to pull the trigger? Not so compassionate I bet.

The kids lives are ruined and that is too bad, but no one did anything to prevent them from getting to that point. Or if they did, then these kids really deserve the natural consequences of their criminal acts. These are aggravated felonies, traffic offenses are not.

Dad: I went to DHS back in the 80's, we had the same drug issues then. We all have a choice in what we do. The high school is not a baby sitting service by any means. At then end of the day, it starts at home. We as parents are responsible for how our kids grow up. Wake up North Shore parents!

Dad...
You point out so many of the problems in our area (and beyond). I've lived her for almost 20 years and it still amazes me that parents believe that here in the suburbs their children are insulated from that bad element. For years I've witnessed or been told of kids (by my kids) who are drinking, have drug problems - all kinds of abuse. I would agree with Lou that what these two teens did was extremely serious and should treated so but seldom does bad behavior develop because of a single effect. Most of us did stupid things as teens but burglary with a gun is not typical stupid teen behavior, it's a crime and unfortunately these two boys will face consequences that will most likely ruin the rest of their lives. By the grace of God, go I.

If there were a gold medal for stupidity, these Deerfield teens would win it easily. No one would argue, many teens are STUPID. They take dangerous drugs, drink way too much alcohol, get involved in sex way too soon and commit crime, why?, because lots of teen just CANNOT think like adults. They often cannot imagine consequences, they think they are invincible and will live forever. This "invasion" was stupid, 7:30am? their car nearby for identification? probably their fingerprints all over the place? these are not criminals, they are dumb/stupid teens, just like the ones who passed me today at around 100mph on the Edens. Should these morons be punished for the rest of their lives when they really need a big dose of grow up, something the mental health and rehabilitation community at large could provide and has provided for others? I cannot see the benefit of locking up these dummies who did the wrong teen thing one morning, with the sun shining brightly for all to see. Moreover, these blogs could serve as the impetus for the community to talk it up, especially to the kids who attend DHS and HPHS. By the way, I am not innocent of past teen crimes, and I hope my grandkids do not make the same mistakes I made and these kids made. Yes, I never used a weapon, but, at 16years old I did drive at 105 mph for no reason other than I could.

Lou :

While I appreciate your well written comments, I disagree with your thoughts on the repercussions for their actions.

"our" area already reeks of entitlement with the feelings that somehow many are "special, better and can do no wrong, there had to be some mitigating circumstances no fault of their own".

Again if these were minority kids from Waukegan, there would be outrage , private security firms hired and a hang them at dusk mentality because they are not entitled to make mistakes and we are afraid of them.

These "kids" should, if convicted, be an example to shake other misled N Shore kids into understanding that laws and minimum sentences for using a weapon in a crime should be color and neighborhood blind.

Forest, I also appreciate reading your comments and would hope both you and I can imagine the future with these two either driving around in a car again or walking the streets near our homes. What would be better for them and our families: the guilty ones subjected to intensive and evidence based rehabilitative counseling OR imprisoned in a windowless 8x10 concrete walled prison cell for years? My own rehabiltiation came from a compassionate and intelligent cop who stopped me at 3am and drove me home to have a discussion with me and my mother. He could have driven me to jail to spend all day with drunk men and others. I luckily made it through the teen years without a scratch and obviously you did also. Frankly, none of us are without guilt. If we think back, others looked out for our well being, that cop could have easily indoctrinated me into the criminal justice system and I would not have benefitted as much as that impromptu meeting between my mom, the cop and me. And thinking about using punishment to teach other teens, I don't accept that argument. Because teens believe they are invincible (can't be rational), threats of prison don't work. As far as color coded justice, you may be correct. But since the common denominator for most young criminals is poverty, why couldn't our society equalize the money field, it may result in less crime and make for a better world.

I must agree with David G. I am really appalled by the comments that equate these 3 felonies with traffic offenses. Not even close! Drunk driving is illegal only because the legislature says so. Armed robbery has always been illegal. There was a level of thought and planning involved (even if bad planning) that marks the difference in these acts.

Perhaps if there had been hard consequences for the prior bad acts these 2 boys were guilty of, the current events would not have occurred. In any event, if proven guilty of these serious crimes, prison is appropriate. It is too bad that these lives are ruined/wasted. However, if past performance is any guide, to let these boys off now will not result in a saving turn around in their behavior. Rather, it will only reinforce the belief that they can do as they please without consequences. Next time they will kill someone and the same nonsense about their wonderful parents, etc. will be forth coming. Armed home invaders deserve to go to prison, no matter what.

All hearsay....it's easy to see this is a drug deal gone bad.....the house that ONE of the boys was in; was selling drugs....this will all come out in trial...but to say these boys have a checkered past.....hahahahaha....no claims have been made to this on any police public blotter or school public record.....hearsay again....the boys do not have any such police record or have been found guilty of any such crimes as you mentioned Joel S.....my money is on a light verdict...my best guess was a “Big FU....get out of my house or I will call the police” was said....my best guess Jake L.....screwed over one of these boys....my best guess is an unloaded gun was taken to intimidate...my best guess is.....Jake is in a whole lotta trouble for selling dope...Joe M is in trouble for being in a residence he was not invited into....and Josh N is home free on any serious charges.

I chalk this up to a media frenzy on the Deerfield Patch of a half assed story....early to jump the gun on a story......all media parties guilty of never having children of their own and not thinking of what this all sounds like from a parents perspective.....you all sound very foolish on sending 17 year old boys to jail on a blown out story in Pleasantville USA.

While it is true that all of the facts are not on the table and indeed all parties are innocent until proven guilty, the Police Reports indicated an unauthorized home invasion that likely included a weapon. Now if the weapon was intended to scare someone, no doubt it would. So much so, that if there was access to another gun, someone could have been seriously harmed and the alternative of prison might have been a much better option than other potential consequences.

This cannot be taken lightly as an everyday occurances or just kids being kids. So, we will all have to wait and see what transpires with the investigation and trial. If anyone is innocent then that person(s) should indeed walk free and have this put behind them without predudice. If however, where there is smoke there is fire and indeed an armed entry was committed for any reason, by anyone....then there are serious consequences that cannot be simply and blindly ignored.
I also think this is two seperate cases, one involving the entry regardless of the reason and one for possession and possible dealing.

Forest....TOTALLY AGREE! What was done was so stupid by all 3 youths! These Scarface like actions will be handled by the law. It's a shame what has happened to our community...these families for for these 3 brats to have done such a heinous crime to one another's lives. Josh was a champion goalie at DHS and was a decent student....I don't know the other 2 involved as well as I know him; but my children said this was eventually gonna happen to these boys. It's a shame because Josh has some of the nicest loving parents...I totally agree that many times we are not firm enough on our children...I was and even though I physically knocked my son of this dangerous path...he is still angy with me today for my response to dope...school and his life....these kids do not understand the meaning of Reefer Madness...I see it everyday...I know the fear some parents may have to challenge their kids....the fear of suicide, cutting, kids really gone mad with guns.....etc...etc...etc. I really do not believe thse boys had it in them to go into a house and try and rob it....I questioned right away about this...the kids I know all told me that was a drug house...it was easy to put 2 and 2 together and figure out what really happened....right now this is a he said...and he said situation....the papers made it sound so random at first..I even doubt it was a surpirse to the parents that this boy was in the house...I think mommy or daddy walked in on a drug deal and got pissed off!!!

WHY? are all you PATHETIC people leaving comments. Concerned citizens? PLEASE. Nobody in HP or DF have exciting life. HP and DF is the mecca of drama and opinions. I am the closes person leaving a comment on this situation and if circumstance were different. I would have been in that home the morning of the robbery. To the teens who rob that home..YOUR LUCKY I WASNT THERE THAT MORNING, CAUSE IF I WAS, I WOULD HAVE ATTACK YOU AND GOTTEN YOUR GUN, HOG TIED YOU AND THEM CALLED THE COPS. or I would have gotten shot and YOU PATHETIC teens would have been up on murder or attempt murder charges. Believe me the people reading this comment. If you can figure out who this is. Know that I wouldn't back down from two pathetic teens with guns. I have to much PRIDE for that. I would rather be shot. Plus then the pathetic DF teens, would be big bubbas, GF in prison for at least 15-20 years.

Lou:

Re your comments: "These stupid kids also allegedly made a stupid decision to enter and use a weapon. But no one pulled a trigger and no one got hurt"

Really? So that makes it a minor, little slap on the wrist, oh you goofy guys thing? Next time someone enters your home with a weapon be sure to high five them.

Did they really break in? Did they really have a loaded gun? What did Josh do? What did Joe do? All we know for sure is that Jake had dope and money in a safe and was a known drug dealer....these are the only facts of this case beacuse the police caught him red handed....but the words thrown at Joe and Josh are all hearsay.....did anyone stop and think....did Jake screw Joe anbd Josh out of money and the boys were going there to pick up their money or dope....and possibly Josh called the police.....are there really moms and dads home at 7:30 anymore...I am not...I am on the train heading downtown for work each day....what is Jake told Joe...get out of my house or I will call the poilce????....Again....the only real fact of this case was Jake had dope and cash in a safe in his bedroom.....the rest is media hype!!!! So far I see the states attorney threw a bunch of nonsense claims at these boys all built on hearsay.....

Where is Perry Mason or MacGyver when we need them?

Lou,

I have not admitted to any of the acts that you attribute to me. Time to stop personally attacking someone you disagree with. That is usually the first sign of the lack of merit to someone's argument, that and you're hiding without disclosing your whole name.

1. In the 60's the traffic violations did not carry the same moral approbation they do today. That's why drunk driving and highway deaths have steadily decreased.

2. Even in the 60's (and always for that matter) braking into someone's house, especially with a weapon (knife, club, sword or gun) was always a serious crime (in earlier times a capital offense.

3. Even as a teenager I appreciated the extreme difference between driving offenses and home invasion, with or w/o a deadly weapon (stolen weapon).

There is something seriously wrong with your moral compass if you truly believe that the behavior of these teens is the equivalent of nothing more than major traffic offenses. How dare you equate my teenage indiscretions with the crimes of these boys. My parents raised better than that.

Apologists like you are the reason that the lack of early consequences lead to more serious criminal acts like these 2 are alleged to have committed.

"I have, in my youth, driven drunk. I have exceeded the speed limit, even recently". Joel, these are your words, not mine. I am not equating home invasion to traffic law violations, however, both can and do result in death. I'm sure if you were stopped by the police, you would not want to go to jail for speeding, but you could under Illinois Law. You would want a deal. These 17 year olds do not have the neuronal capacity to imagine and appreciate the consequences of their acts, they deserve a deal also for their alleged first time non death causing felony. Prison will nothing for them except make them angry and vengeance prone. Better, society needs to use methods that will move to prevent future crimes not ones that make our society more dangerous.

These so called kids need to have consequences for their actions, because thanks to easy punishments their crimes become bigger like Carly Rousso killing Jaquelin Santos In Hp.

I agree. What is going on in HP & DF with these 17 & 18 year olds??? Parents: get more involved! Read your kids' Twitter & Facebook pages. Know their friends. TALK TO THEM!

The talk needs to start at age 8! There are so many parents I run across who can't believe that there could be drugs, alcohol, cutting, stealing, sex, etc. in a great place like HP or DF. Hello??? Where did these parents grow up themselves to be this naive?

I was wondering if anyone would comment between these 17 year old adults and the 18 year old adult that KILLED a 5 year old girl and injured the rest of the family! Some people in articles regarding her have posted past tweets from her twitter account and have noted that this is not her first time in trouble! What is going on here?!?! Are we as community members missing something or are we turning our backs turning a blind eye and ignoring the signs!?!? All these "adults" have had to be screaming in some way for help! Apparently, to me the teachers in the community are not abt enough to recognize problems, and as community members we truly are missing stuff too! Once again...I am sure there is more to both situations...the "adult" boys go to court tomorrow, hopefully we will learn more and learn from what happened...as for the "adult" girl, I seriously hope that her charges are raised, because killing someone while intoxicated is far more severe than the charges against her. She too needs some major help and because it is a well known family in the community, she should not get off easier! Keep talking and keep listening....they are in high school but they talk even when they think we are not listening!

I will comment on the 18 year old kid who killed the 5 year old. She is a sweet kid that sadly made bad choices. We do not know at this juncture what the intoxicating substance is and in fact could be meds prescribed by a doctor. I would ask the community realize that one is innocent until proven guilty. As for the parents of these children, I am positive in Carly's case she has good parents. I know both of them and they have tried to help Carly. One has to realize that a child sometimes has a bend that no matter what "morale" training you give them will gravitate to the wrong things. I think as long as it is OPK (Other people's kids) all of you are so quick to judge - what if it was YOUR kid? then what? Only you as a parent of each child mentioned above knows the situation and can judge. The rest of you need to take a chill pill and let the authorities deal with the situation.

David...I was thinking of the personal details of what any family may or may not have done over the past 18 years, not the legal process.

There is only one guaranty in all this ridiculous nonsense: This incident has been blown WAY out of proportion as it relates to what happened and the motive of these young white suburban criminals.... LMAO... What a colossal joke this all is.

Carry on with it---