A 2021 birthday party at Safari Land in Villa Park turned into a shooting scene, and now the gunman has been convicted. A DuPage County judge on Thursday found a Chicago man guilty in the wounding of another man inside the busy indoor amusement park, where prosecutors say dozens of families were present. No children were hurt.
Judge Finds Chicago Man Guilty After Four-Day Trial
Meco Norris, 29, was found guilty of three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm after a four-day bench trial, prosecutors said. The conviction was outlined in a statement from the DuPage County state's attorney's office and reported by FOX 32 Chicago. Norris is due back in court on Feb. 4 for post-trial motions and the return of the pre-sentencing report, with a sentencing hearing set for Feb. 18, 2026.
Gunfire At A Birthday Party Inside Safari Land
Police were called just before 7 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2021, after reports of shots fired inside Safari Land, an indoor amusement park at 701 W. North Ave. in Villa Park, authorities said. Prosecutors say Norris and the victim were both attending a birthday party when Norris pulled a handgun and fired three rounds, hitting the man in the chest, right shoulder and right arm. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and released later that night, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Prosecutors Blast 'Utter Disregard' For Public Safety
DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin called the shooting an "utter disregard for public safety" and said he was grateful the victim recovered. In a statement shared via the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, prosecutors credited Assistant State's Attorneys Lee Roupas, Nicole Wilkes-English, and Nick Covert with securing the guilty verdict. Authorities say Norris fled Safari Land after the shooting and hid the firearm in a residential area behind the park before he was arrested the next day in Chicago.
Class X Felonies And A Long Prison Term On The Table
Each aggravated battery with a firearm count is a Class X felony that carries a mandatory prison term under Illinois law, with sentences required to run consecutively, not at the same time. Judge Joseph Bugos found Norris guilty on the three aggravated battery counts and acquitted him of attempted murder, according to the Daily Herald. If the court hands down full consecutive terms, prosecutors say Norris faces between 18 and 90 years in prison.
Next Court Dates And Custody Status
Norris has remained in custody since bond was set at $1 million, with 10 percent to apply, according to local coverage. He is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 4 for post-trial motions and the pre-sentencing report, with sentencing set for Feb. 18, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
