Alsip Police Officers responded to the 12200 block of Rexford on July 11 after a homeowner reported that a bullet struck his house.

A neighbor named Rudy Ruiz told officers that fireworks caused the noise, not a round being fired. The investigating officer pried the bullet out of the house, thereby contradicting Ruiz’s statement.

While on scene, the investigating officer located one spent shell casing as well as one live round of ammunition, however no firearm was located in the immediate area. The officers retrieved the video surveillance hard drive and conducted a forensic examination of it, which revealed that Ruiz, 35, of Alsip, was involved in an argument with another male on the property. As that male walked away, Ruiz shot in his direction and the bullet struck the house across the street. A third male, Moneer Farhat, 46, of Alsip, took the gun and hid it prior to the arrival of Alsip Officers.

The Alsip Police Department drafted and executed a search warrant on July 13 at the residence of 12223 S. Rexford, where Ruiz and Farhat live. Farhat was immediately taken into custody. Ruiz was arrested when he returned home later.

Both Ruiz and Farhat are convicted felons, thereby prohibiting them from firearms possession. The case was presented to the Cook County State’s Attorney, who approved felony charges for both. Ruiz was charged with Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, and Aggravated Driving While his License is Revoked. Farhat was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon.

Ruiz and Farhat were taken to bond hearing at the Bridgeview Courthouse on July 15. Their bond amounts are not immediately known.