Mieshon Harvey, a 21-year-old resident of Waukegan, Illinois, was fatally shot on May 28, 2023, while attempting to break up a fight at the Bowlero bowling alley located at 631 Lakehurst Road in Waukegan. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, around 1:09 a.m., when the Waukegan Police Department responded to a report of a person shot at Vista Medical Center East. Harvey was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The altercation began with a fight between two female subjects in the parking lot of the bowling alley. When Harvey tried to intervene, he got into an argument with Josiah Mars, 24, of Zion. During this altercation, Derrick Wells, 32, of Zion, handed Mars a handgun, which Mars then used to shoot Harvey in the chest. Both Mars and Wells fled the scene following the shooting.
In addition to the fatal shooting of Harvey, Mars also committed another violent act later that morning. Around 4 a.m., Mars traveled to the Woodstone Village Apartments in the 1500-1600 blocks of Lorelei Drive in Zion, where he shot a 21-year-old male victim, who was identified as Harvey's cousin. The victim was shot in the neck but sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a local hospital by family members.
Both Josiah Mars and Derrick Wells were later arrested by the Waukegan Police Department. Mars was found to be in possession of a semi-automatic handgun that matched the caliber of the weapon used in Harvey's murder, and it is also believed to have been used in the Zion shooting. The gun has been sent to the crime lab for further analysis.
Mars was charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the Waukegan shooting and additional charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm for the Zion shooting. Wells was charged with three counts of murder, aggravated domestic battery, and two counts of domestic battery in connection with the Waukegan shooting. Both men were ordered held on $5 million bonds, with Mars's bond later increased to a combined $6 million following the additional charges.
Harvey's family described him as a bright light in their lives, full of energy, kindness, and promise. His sudden and unexpected death has had a profound impact on the community, and the family has set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for his funeral.
