An Illinois teenager is accused of sending Snapchat messages threatening to kill a man and the man’s infant son while he was out on pretrial release in connection with an alleged assault on a 15-year-old Walmart shopper, according to court records and a criminal complaint cited by local outlets.
Keon Harris, 18, of Woodstock, was already facing felony charges tied to a January 2025 incident at a Walmart in Algonquin when authorities say he began harassing a local father over Snapchat. In the messages, Harris allegedly asked, “Have you ever seen a baby die,” and told the father to “imagine your son leaking from his forehead,” the complaint says.
The complaint also alleges Harris sent multiple videos and photos of himself holding what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle while making the threats.
Online court records cited by Shaw Local indicate Harris had been released from county jail ahead of trial after being charged with aggravated battery and mob action stemming from the Walmart incident. In that case, police allege Harris and another teenager, Fernando Torres, 19, also of Woodstock, repeatedly punched the 15-year-old victim in the face. Another local outlet reported the victim was also stomped after falling to the ground.
Police said the assault left the teen with visible bruising and discoloration, and that he was bleeding from his mouth and nose, according to Shaw Local.
Harris was scheduled to appear in court Thursday for a status hearing to set a trial date in the Walmart case, but that hearing was rescheduled, court records show. In the threats case, he is due back in court on Feb. 2 after being charged with phone harassment and disorderly conduct.
Lake & McHenry County Scanner reported Harris was released from custody again because the new allegations are classified as Class B and Class C misdemeanors. The outlet said that meant prosecutors could not file a petition to block his release under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail and revised pretrial release procedures.
