Teen charged in armed sexual assault of 15-year-old girl in Albany Park

A Chicago teen has been charged in an armed sexual assault last November in Albany Park, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Gerson Castillo Flores, 17, is charged as an adult and faces aggravated criminal sexual assault with firearm and kidnapping while armed with a firearm, according to Chicago police. Flores, who has no prior criminal history, was ordered detained Wednesday by Judge Luciano Panici.

Flores was arrested Tuesday. While in police custody, he allegedly confessed to touching the girl and shooting at her November 21, prosecutors said. He told police the encounter was consensual, but said the girl may have been scared because he was holding her at gunpoint, prosecutors said.

The girl and her friend, both 15, had been walking around the Rockwell train station at 9:20 p.m. when they saw two people — including Flores, who was wearing a ski mask — during which point they crossed the street, prosecutors said. Flores told police after being arrested that his friend, referred to in court documents as a co-defendant, said, “Let’s steal them," prosecutors said.

The girls ran, and one fell, being cornered by Flores’ friend, prosecutors said. Flores then allegedly chased the other girl, pressed the barrel of a gun against her chest and forced her into the alley in the 2900 block of West Wilson Avenue where he assaulted her, prosecutors said.

Several witnesses in the neighborhood arrived and shooed the men away, prosecutors said.

Flores told police the weapon was an airgun, though a muzzle flash was caught on surveillance camera when he allegedly fired it at the victim and others as he was walking away, prosecutors said.

Flores is due again in court April 15.