Cicero man charged with shooting neighbors bonds out of jail, victims outraged

CICERO, Ill. (WLS) -- A suburban Cicero couple who were shot and nearly killed by their neighbor want to know why the man charged with attempted murder is already back on the streets.

One of the victims said her neighbor simply snapped: without a word, he walked onto their lawn and started shooting. Police said when the man ran out of bullets he went to reload and was stopped only by responding officers who threatened to fire.

"That's what hurts the most: There was no purpose. No reason. He didn't say anything. He just shot us," said Vanessa, one of the shooting victims.

Vanessa asked us to hide her identity. The pain - and the scars - are still fresh.

"The bullet is still in there. They don't want to risk the bullet falling into my vocal cord," Vanessa said, pointing to her scar.

But she considers herself lucky. Her boyfriend is paralyzed from the waist down.

Neighbor Edward Wiencek is charged with attempted murder.

"Everything is good. I've been treated well," Wiencek said.

Wiencek was seen being wheeled out of the courthouse, but it's not clear why he was on a gurney. Cook County judge Gregory Vasquez set his bond so low, he was able to post $30,000 and is now free.

When asked if he was surprised he got out on bond, Wiencek replied: "No!"

Cicero police are so concerned, they sent this letter to nearby residents warning them Wiencek was out.

"It's actually appalling to be honest. People could be here in the street shooting their neighbors for absolutely no reason and be able to bond themselves out," said Supt. Jerry Chlada, Cicero Police Dept.

"This man actually emptied his gun on both of these people and screamed at our clients, 'Why are you not dead?'" said Peter DeLongis, victims' attorney.

On Tuesday night, the lights were on, but no one came to the door at Mr. Weincek's home. A sign warning people to "beware of owners" hangs nearby.

Meanwhile, Vanessa said she is too scared to go home.

"I've been hiding out because I can't return home. This guy is out on bond. He's my neighbor. He could return home. I don't know what he's capable of," she said.

Vanessa and her boyfriend say they hadn't exchanged a single word with Wiencek in months.

Prosecutors said they wanted Wiencek held without bond. The judge disagreed. He did not return ABC7's call for comment.