Grundy Deputy Shot 3 Times: Joliet Teen Guilty Of Attempted Murder

MORRIS, IL — On Friday afternoon, a Grundy County jury found Joliet teenager Demarcus Denwiddie guilty of attempted murder, aggravated battery to a police officer and aggravated discharge of a gun stemming from the Oct. 7, 2021 shooting of Grundy County Sheriff's Deputy Tyler Post.

Sheriff Ken Briley said the sentencing will take place in the coming months. Denwiddie will turn 20 years old at the end of March.

"I'm just glad it's over with. It's been a long week for our department and for Tyler and his family," Briley told Joliet Patch's Editor Friday afternoon.

Briley said the Grundy County State's Attorney's Office presented a solid case this week, and the jury listened attentively, adding, "I think they returned the right verdict."

Deputy Post testified during this week's trial while Dewiddie, who was represented by the Grundy County Public Defender's Office, did not testify in his own defense.

Almost a year and a half ago, Post was shot multiple times after the traffic stop, and he was in stable condition after the shooting. The deputy was shot near Mazon, about eight miles south of Morris.

On Friday, Briley said that Deputy Post remained in the hospital overnight for observation purposes. He returned to active duty at the sheriff's office within about 60 days of being shot.

Following a man hunt in the Mazon area, Denwiddie was found in an apartment in the downtown area of Mazon. A SWAT team captured Denwiddie, and he has remained incarcerated ever since.

Sheriff Briley said the Joliet teen has been held in the LaSalle County Jail.

Back in 2021, Grundy County sheriff's officials said that Deputy Post attempted to pull Denwiddie's vehicle over just after 5 p.m. on Route 47 near Mazon. That's when the driver fled, crashing into a ditch before driving out, going around another car, and then crashing again near the railroad crossing at Grand Ridge Road.

Denwiddie, of Raynor Avenue in Joliet, ran away and as the deputy chased after him, Briley said the Joliet teen fired multiple shots, striking Post once in the left forearm. Two additional shots, which hit Post in the chest and back, were stopped by the deputy's ballistic vest.

On Friday, Briley said that Denwiddie's gun jammed after he fired his fourth shot — all at point-blank range. Deputy Post was trying to tackle Denwiddie after he ran from his car to avoid the arrest. Denwiddie still had another 13 live ammunition rounds in his magazine at the shooting, and he was clearly trying to kill Deputy Post, Briley said.

"Fortunately, the gun jammed and he was not able to fire," Briley said.

Denwiddie's fourth and final gunshot actually shot himself in his other arm, Briley said. Sheriff's officials believe Denwiddie was shooting at the deputy as he was running away, and that part of his clothing was in his way.

After the shooting, Denwiddie went into hiding in Mazon, and more than 200 area police officers created a perimeter of the town and Denwiddie was captured within three to four hours of the week day shooting, Briley said.

"I want to thank the local departments and the Will County Sheriff's Office SWAT team for the perimeter in Mazon," Briley said after Friday's jury verdict.

Related Patch story:

Deputy Shot: Joliet Man Charged With Attempted Murder