Illinois Man Charged After Accidentally Shooting Himself in Sleep During Nightmare
Lake County, IL — Mark Dicara, a semi-retired attorney from Illinois, is facing legal consequences after a harrowing incident in which he accidentally shot himself while dreaming he was being robbed.
The incident unfolded early Monday morning and has since prompted charges related to firearm possession and reckless discharge.
Dicara, who had been licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Wisconsin, experienced a distressing dream in which he believed his home was under attack.
In a panic, he reached for his .357 Magnum revolver and discharged the weapon into what he thought was an intruder. The shot, however, struck him in the leg and caused significant blood loss, leading to his hospitalization.
Authorities responded to the scene after receiving a call about a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies found Dicara bleeding profusely.
They applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding before transporting him to a local hospital for further treatment. Miraculously, the bullet that passed through Dicara’s leg ended up lodging itself in his bedding, and no other individuals were harmed.
The subsequent investigation revealed that no home invasion had occurred. The shooting, as it turned out, was purely accidental and directly linked to Dicara’s nightmarish state.
The real trouble began when law enforcement discovered that Dicara was in possession of the firearm without a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID).
Although Dicara had previously held a FOID card, it had been revoked, though officials have not yet confirmed the reasons or timing of its revocation.
As a result, Dicara faces charges for possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card, as well as reckless discharge of a firearm. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is moving forward with the prosecution, and Dicara has appeared in court after posting a $150,000 bond.
Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office commented on the unusual nature of the case: “We’ve investigated accidental or negligent shootings, however, this is the first that we can recall where someone fired a gun because of a dream they were having.”
The incident has raised questions about firearm safety and the importance of securing weapons, especially in situations where the owner might be in a vulnerable state, such as during sleep.
Dicara, now facing legal repercussions for his lapse in firearm ownership compliance, will likely reconsider his handling of firearms in the future.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with firearms and the critical importance of adhering to firearm regulations to prevent accidents and ensure safety.
