West Suburban Bureau

RIVERSIDE, Ill. (CBS) ― A gunman fired shots at Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica's neighbor's house in west suburban Riverside, and his assistants say they believe Peraica's house was the intended target.

At about 4:11 a.m. Wednesday, Riverside police responded to a residence in the 300 block of Scottswood Road, after an unknown person or persons fired seven bullets at the residence.

Police had earlier received two reports of possible gunshots fired in the area around 3 a.m.

Peraica (R-16th) told CBS 2 that around 3 a.m. Wednesday, he heard gunfire and got up to look out, but didn't see anything. "A loud popping sound woke me up, several in rapid succession. I got up and looked out but didn't see anything. I figured it was just kids in the nature preserve."

Early Thursday morning, Peraica said, police found the bullet holes in the facade of the home next door. The shots hit the house directly to the east of Peraica's. No injuries were reported to anyone inside.

Police believe the shots were fired from a car on the street, hitting the home of two school teachers and their young daughter.

They don't know anyone who would do such a thing, but Peraica has a long list of political enemies.

Peraica said police are speculating that his home was the target.

Riverside police Chief Thomas Weitzel told the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark that police believe Peraica's house was targeted.

Weitzel told the Landmark that none of Peraica's neighbors have "known enemies or professions that would have provoked an attack," and therefore, they believe Peraica's house was the target.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said, "We're acting right now as if he was the target of it."

"I don't know why else they would be targeting the commissioner other than based on his job," Dart said.

Chief of Staff Mike Manzo said "police feel that he [Peraica] might have been the the target." No specific threats have been received recently, he said, but "when you are in this business, and outspoken on reform, you are gonna make enemies."

Peraica said, "I received some threats back when I was running the fall of 2002, but nothing specific recently."

The shooting occurred a few hours after Peraica joined 11 other Cook County commissioners in voting to repeal a 1 percentage point sales tax hike imposed last year.

Peraica, though, noted that he has also made enemies of some of the toughest customers in his west suburban district, including politicos from Cicero and Melrose Park.

"It's part of living in 'Crook' County, the City of Chicago, where this sort of thing happens, unfortunately, way too often and it's the reason, I believe, why good men and women don't want to get in politics," Peraica said.

The commissioner called the incident "disconcerting" but said he and his family will stay in the home, and he will not back down on his political agenda.

"I will stay home and not allow this attempt at intimidation to change what I'm doing. I am not going to discontinue my work and my calls for change.

"I'm not going to be silenced by any of these individuals who try to engage in this kind of behavior," Peraica said.



The case remains under investigation. A witness described the possible offending vehicle as a dark-colored mid-sized four-door car with a loud muffler.

Whoever did it, and whatever their motive, neighbors were alarmed.

Sara Platte, who was visiting Riverside, said, "Hopefully people can figure out exactly what was underlying what went on."

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery and Assignment Editor Dan Gaughan, and the STNG Wire, contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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