On Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 7:37 p.m., St. Charles Police officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Walnut Drive for a report of shots fired inside of an apartment. Upon arrival, officers arrived to an active scene and located several people in the apartment, including a 26 year-old-man of Lindenhurst identified as James Gherardini, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest area. As officers arrived Gherardini was being dragged out of the apartment by another person, 26-year-old Panagiotis Koutroumbis, also of Lindenhurst.
Gherardini was treated on scene by St. Charles Fire Department Fire Fighter/Paramedics and transported to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Officers detained all occupants of the residence as well as Koutroumbis for questioning in connection with the incident. A short time later, officers learned that another person related to this incident, a 25 year-old-man of St. Charles, had been driven to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, with a gunshot wound. He remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Investigators learned that Gherardini, Koutroumbis, and at least one additional person entered the apartment through an unlocked sliding glass door. They reportedly zip-tied the hands of several occupants in the apartment and demanded items from them. Investigators further learned that the aforementioned 25-year old St. Charles man who had been driven to the hospital had at the time of the incident received an open line call from the cell phone of a resident inside the apartment. This individual then went to the apartment and upon arrival he was confronted by the armed offenders, at least one of which who then fired at him. This individual then also brandished a firearm and fired toward the offenders. This individual received a gunshot wound in the abdomen and was subsequently driven to the hospital prior to police arrival. It is believed that during that exchange of gunfire, Gheradini was struck in the chest and fatally wounded.
Investigators have worked with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office and have received authorization for the following charges against Koutroumbis:
• Attempted 1st Degree Murder
• 2 counts of Home Invasion
• Aggravated Unlawful Restraint
It is believed the additional offender(s) may have fled from the scene prior to police arrival. It is also believed that this was an isolated and targeted attack on the occupants of this apartment and that there is no threat to the general public at this time. Investigators have been working around the clock and our investigation continues. We will provide updates in the event of any further arrests or other developments.
The charges against Koutroumbis are not proof of guilt. He is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
