<![CDATA[A Saturday evening fishing trip near Antioch turned dangerous when a property owner grabbed a shotgun and fired it toward a group of anglers on his private pond — a pond that connects to a public waterway channel.
What Happened
On the evening of March 21, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 43000 block of North Lake Avenue in unincorporated Antioch. Theodore Cartner, 76, reported that fishermen were on a privately owned pond on his property without permission. The anglers had reached the pond by navigating through a public channel.
A verbal confrontation broke out between Cartner, who was on shore, and the fishermen, who remained in their boat. Both sides called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. While dispatchers were still on the phone with the fishermen, a gunshot was heard over the line.
Investigators determined that Cartner had retrieved a shotgun and discharged it during the argument. Pellets from the blast struck the water near the anglers’ boat. Thankfully, no one was injured. Cartner later told deputies he fired the weapon into the air as a warning and voluntarily surrendered the firearm.
Charges Filed
After reviewing the facts, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved one count of reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony. Cartner was taken to the Lake County Jail. Prosecutors sought to have him held pending trial, but Lake County Judge Christopher Lombardo denied that request after considering Cartner’s age, clean criminal record, health issues, and the fact that his firearms had already been confiscated.
The judge reportedly told Cartner to think things through and to calm down before taking drastic action in the future, warning about the danger of what goes up eventually coming back down. Cartner was ordered to have no contact with the fishermen and to stay away from all weapons. His next court date is set for April 29.
Why This Matters for Chain O’Lakes Anglers
This incident happened just outside the Fox Chain O’Lakes system — an area where public channels, private ponds, and interconnected waterways create a patchwork of access rights that can easily lead to confusion. If you spend any time fishing the Chain, you know the feeling: one turn through a channel and you’re not always sure whose water you’re on.
Here are some takeaways for anyone fishing in the area:
Know the waterway boundaries. The Fox Chain O’Lakes includes nine interconnected lakes plus the Fox River, and some channels lead to private ponds or restricted areas. When in doubt, check before casting a line.
Stay calm if confronted. If a property owner approaches you, keep it civil. Move along if asked and contact authorities if you believe you have a right to be there. Never escalate.
Property owners: call the sheriff, not the gun safe. If you believe someone is trespassing on your water, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the right call. Discharging a firearm — even as a "warning" — is a felony that can land you in jail and cost you your gun rights.
Respect goes both ways. Keep noise down, don’t litter, and treat private shorelines with respect. A little courtesy goes a long way toward keeping the peace on the water.
The Fox Chain O’Lakes is the busiest inland recreational waterway per acre in the United States. With thousands of boaters and anglers sharing these waters every season, mutual respect between property owners and recreational users isn’t just polite — it’s essential.
Stay safe out there, and tight lines.
Sources: Fox 32 Chicago, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Patch, WLIP]]>