2 men charged with attempted murder in shooting near Mount Prospect park

Kyle Surz and Harley J. Babcock (Mount Prospect Police Dept.)

Two suburban men were arrested in connection with a shooting near a park in Mount Prospect earlier this year.

Harley J. Babcock, 21, of Des Plaines, and Kyle Surz, 20, of Elgin, were each charged with attempted murder after a man was shot near the RexPlex, according to Mount Prospect police.

The shooting occurred around 10:16 p.m. on Sept. 1 near 420 W. Dempster St. Police said the 33-year-old victim was at a barbecue just north of the park when Babcock and Surz showed up and began arguing with him. 

Surz allegedly cut the victim with a knife before Babcock pulled out a gun and shot him. The victim ran to a BP Gas Station located at 800 S. Elmhurst Rd. in Des Plaines where he called for help. He was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

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Both offenders fled the scene in an older model Chevrolet conversion van. 

Babcock and Surz were arrested on Oct. 29 and 30, respectively. They each attended a detention hearing on Nov. 1 where a judge denied them pre-trial release. 

Babcock’s next court date was scheduled for Nov. 6 and Surz’s was scheduled for Nov. 26.