ALTON – An Alton resident faces multiple weapon charges after shooting someone in the abdomen and tossing the weapon into the Mississippi River. Chance M. Lyons, 18, of Alton, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm (a Class X felony), two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (both Class 4 felonies) and obstructing justice (a Class 4 felony). On Feb. 28, 2025, Lyons allegedly shot a victim in the abdomen, causing injury, before throwing the firearm into the river. His possession of the weapon, a .40 caliber handgun, was unlawful as he was under 21 years of age and had no valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card at the time of the offense. The situation escalated after a verbal dispute unfolded in the 400 block of Cherry Street in Alton, according to a petition to deny pretrial release for Lyons. “Video showed that the defendant was the initial physical aggressor, approaching the victim on the front porch of ,” the petition
Continue Reading