WCSO: Joliet Township Homicide

Press release from the Will County Sheriff's Office:

DC Dan Jungles

October 31, 2021

On 10/31/2021, at approximately 12:39 AM, a patrol sergeant with the Will County Sheriff’s Office heard ten (10) to twelve (12) gunshots being fired in the area of Jackson Street and Walnut Street in Joliet Township.  The sergeant responded to the area of gunfire and observed over one-hundred people fleeing, running eastbound on Jackson Street.  The sergeant then proceeded on foot to the area of Jackson Street and Grinton Avenue, where he believed the gunfire to be coming from.  The sergeant was advised by fleeing witnesses that the shooting occurred at 1018 E. Jackson Street in the backyard of the residence.

Additional sheriff’s office personnel and outside police agencies responded to the scene, and responding personnel located multiple individuals shot in the backyard and at nearby houses.  Initial responding personnel began performing life saving measures and wound triage on numerous individuals on scene.  While sheriff’s office personnel were on scene, additional shots were heard in the immediate area.

Over a dozen individuals were injured by gunfire and transported to local area hospitals.  In addition, the Will County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that two victims died as a result of their injuries on scene.  Four more victims were transported to local area hospitals with life threatening injuries.  The identities of the two victims are being withheld at this time, until family members can be notified.

This investigation is in its early stages, and Will County Sheriff’s Office personnel are still on scene preserving the crime scene and collecting evidence.  Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office began conducting interviews at various locations and the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force was activated in order to assist detectives with conducting interviews.

Responding deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office were able to determine that a Halloween party was being held at a residence located at 1018 E. Jackson Street in Joliet Township.  The shooting occurred outside the residence near a DJ booth that was set up in the backyard.  Initial estimates indicate that there was close to 200 people attending the party.

Witnesses indicated to detectives that there were two shooters at the party.  The shooting occurred from an elevated position on a porch looking down over the crowd.  The first shooter is described as an average sized, Hispanic Male with facial hair, wearing a red hoodie, a black flat billed hat, and dark pants.  The second shooter is described as an average sized, light-skinned black male or Hispanic wearing a yellow hoodie and ski mask.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in trying to identify individuals that attended this Halloween party.  If anyone has information, cellphone pictures or video of the party, or potential suspect information, you are urged to contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office.  This investigation is still on-going and additional information will be provided when appropriate.

 If anyone has any information, or was a witness to this incident, please contact the Detective Danielle Strohm at 815-727-8574 at extension 4930.  You can also contact her by email at [email protected].  If you wish to remain anonymous, we urge you to submit a tip on the on the Will County Sheriff’s website at www.willcosheriff.org/enforcement/submit-a-crime-tip, or on the Will County Sheriff’s Office App that is available in iOS and Android platforms.  You can also contact Will County Crime Stoppers by telephone at 800-323-6734, or by computer at www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org/submit-a-tip/. 

This press release was produced by the Will County Sheriff's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.