(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha, Wis. — A 19-year-old Illinois man appeared in Kenosha County court Thursday on two sets of felony charges tied to a high-speed police chase and a shooting into an occupied apartment.
Zjevon A. Romero, of Zion, faces a total of 10 felony charges across two cases, including multiple counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, fleeing and eluding, and felony bail jumping. If convicted on all charges, he faces more than 75 years in prison.
Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis asked the court to impose a $500,000 cash bond, citing Romero’s history of fleeing from law enforcement and what he described as a “dangerous pattern of conduct.”
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
“This is conduct that my office is not going to tolerate,” Solis said in court. “We believe that the conduct is dangerous in the community, and we also believe he has a flight risk due to the fact that he has a history of fleeing and eluding.”
Court Commissioner William Michel II set bail at $195,000 across both cases.
(Kenosha Sheriff)
110 mph Police Pursuit
According to the complaint, on the morning of September 10, 2024, an officer with the Pleasant Prairie Police Department spotted a vehicle linked to Romero on Highway 31. When the officer activated his emergency lights, Romero allegedly fled, reaching speeds of up to 110 miles per hour.
The pursuit continued through multiple intersections where Romero is accused of running red lights, nearly causing several collisions, and eventually sideswiping two other vehicles. He then reportedly crossed into oncoming traffic before driving into Illinois.
Police later found the suspect vehicle parked outside an apartment complex in Zion. Surveillance footage and physical evidence confirmed Romero was behind the wheel during the pursuit. The vehicle showed damage consistent with the side-swipes, and officers noted it was still hot to the touch with a strong smell of burning brakes.
At the time of the chase, Romero was out on bond from an earlier felony fleeing case in Racine County, where he had also failed to appear in court and remained in warrant status.
Apartment Shooting with Children Inside
Romero was additionally charged Wednesday in connection to a September 4, 2024, shooting at an apartment on 55th Street in Kenosha.
According to police, multiple people—including minors—were inside the home when a bullet was fired through the front door. Surveillance footage showed a gray Honda Pilot, registered to Romero, stopping outside the apartment. Two masked individuals exited the vehicle and ran toward the residence just before the shot was fired.
Police later recovered a bullet from inside the home. A review of cellphone data and surveillance video linked Romero and several associates to the scene. In one message found on his phone, Romero allegedly referenced the incident, stating they “blew [the] windows down.”
In a recorded interview, Romero admitted to driving the vehicle and being present at the time of the shooting but denied firing the weapon. He initially named two individuals who were with him but later added a third—his 15-year-old brother—who ultimately admitted to pulling the trigger.
The teen told detectives he intended to scare the residents due to prior threats and altercations between the groups. The firearm used was reportedly a revolver handed to him by another occupant of the vehicle. No shell casings were recovered at the scene.
Next Steps
Romero remains in custody at the Racine County Jail as he has a probation hold. Both investigations are ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.
His next court appearance is scheduled for later this month.
39 Responses
Cut his limbs off so he can never drive again. Lucky someone wasn’t killed, running red lights at 100mph. They all drive to the state line and the chase ends, something needs about this.
Something needs to be done about this.
Sorry typing while driving
Do you understand how retarded you are? You can easily kill someone texting and driving
he wasnt driving & texting so try tf again . you think u kno sum off a article . 😂😂😂😂😂
Pipe down lame. You’re just as bad as the rat this article is about.
he wasnt driving & texting so try tf again . you think u kno sum off a article . 😂😂😂😂😂
he wasnt driving & texting so try tf again . you think u kno sum off a article . 😂😂😂😂😂
Ignore the trolls.
Lucky someone wasn’t killed while typing and driving…smh
Solis is looking more bearded lately.
Too busy cleaning up the mess left by all that liberal trash to get an edge up.
DA wants $500,000 Court Commissioner says $195,000 who wants to protect the community? Keep us safe from Michel.
Exactly, it is complete b******* to reduce the bond in this case. You obviously want it set high enough that he can’t post it because the odds are way too great that a young dumbass from Illinois is not going to voluntarily walk into a court house in Wisconsin just like he didn’t before. Let everything take its course where you charge him with stuff that could get them 75 years let them plea bargain to something for half that and then with good behavior he can get out in half that time. Sadly, most of us will probably still be alive when he gets out.
lock him up !
Hang him….like the old days.
Who fucking names these people, too?
Are you just noticing that? That’s been the trend for a decade or two now with those people. They think somehow if they give their kids some fancy unpronounceable name they can throw them out of the house and say leave me alone when he’s 8 years old and everything will be fine. Then you have the females which all seem to be named after a country in Africa and their mom’s favorite mouthwash.
You talking crazy from an anonymous name. Stop it. Say it with your chest out with your name attached to it and watch would happen to you🗣️‼️
Strange, you’re posting anonymously, so do you fit your own description?
Or drink… Ahronge Kilade
Hang him with his asshole parents in public! Duh!
You talking crazy from an anonymous name. Stop it. Say it with your chest out with your name attached to it and watch would happen to you‼️
Says he who remains anonymous.
Maybe he’ll get lucky and hire teddy 🧸
He probably thought Gravely and McNeil were still running things and giving sweet plea deals for probation.
HIGH BOND / LOCK HIM UP HE IS A THUG .
We need to let these thugs NO that Kenosha is not there playground
He isn’t a thug, he’s a scary rat, who throws people, like his brother, under the bus under pressure…obviously. Have fun walking the mainline cheese eater.
I speak on behalf of his great grandmother and say “Hedindunuffin.”
What consequences is the teen brother getting who shot the gun?
Tree chipper time. Best way to stop repeat offenders. In public so his homies can see where they are headed.
So tired of these delinquents speeding through Kenosha back to rotten Illinois! Stay in your own state and reak havoc!
ZeeeJavon didndonuffin!
Y’all rascist in Kenosha putting good boys in jail.
None a y’all got shot.
In Chicago he would be out already and home with his momma.
You’re fucked in the head.
That was a sarcastic post, which you should have figured out from momma being 14 years older than zerejavon
Because Brandon Johnson is worthless. And if he hadn’t lied to get elected he’d be another worthless DEI hire somewhere at best. I mean his track record speaks for itself— no more shotspotter, speed cameras on every street, lose of control during publicly held meetings—he’s a complete flake. And, on top of that, Chicago has a habit of letting little black boys out so they can continue to shoot each other. You don’t see a problem with any of that?
In 1977 my brother and friend fled from the cops in Lake County, IL in a 1965 Ford Fairline. The cops beat both of them. They copped to misdemeanor charges.
I bet that beating did more to set them straight than probation and counseling ever could have.
Boys run, men face the consequences of their actions. Today’s society teaches children to stay children. A man needs to teach their child how to be calm, civil, and how humble themselves. ANY boy/girl can take a gun to a fight and pull the trigger, but a man/woman will try to make the world better the hard way. Take the easy way out with violence, or become a man and resolve problems the hard way through constructive communication.
One way leads to death, the other leads to freedom.
Is unfortunate that very few of us share this perspective.
If he just had access to the daddy program with other convicted criminals he might not shoot into an apartment with children present.