Arrest Made After 2 Shot At Grand Opening For The Niche

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department announced Sunday that 25-year-old Morris Dunnigan was arrested in connection with Saturday night's shootings of a young woman and a young man who attended the grand-opening for a new downtown urban clothing store called The Niche.

Dunnigan has been charged, so far, with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, Joliet police revealed Sunday.

"A male was located walking away from the area and appeared to be attempting to conceal an item in his waistband. The male was stopped by officers and identified as Dunnigan. A firearm was recovered and Dunnigan was taken into custody without incident," Joliet police said. "Dunnigan’s involvement in this incident is still under investigation."

Dunnigan lives in the 1400 block of Sehring Street in Joliet. He will go before a Will County judge for a bail hearing Monday.

Joliet police said Saturday's shooting inside The Niche, 103 North Ottawa St., was reported at 8:41 p.m. Joliet police were notified on Sunday that one of the errant bullets traveled a couple blocks and went through the new $215 million Will County Courthouse that opens in November.

One bullet round struck a first floor window of the north side of the new courthouse. It is believed to be a stray fired round from the shooting at The Niche, police notified Joliet Patch.

(Story continues below this Joliet Patch photo.)

Joliet police said the 20-year-old woman was flown to Loyola University Medical Center. Although originally in critical condition, her condition has stabilized, according to Joliet police. The man who was shot was treated and released from AMITA Health Saint Joseph.

"Officers determined numerous people were on scene for the grand opening of the clothing store at which time shots were fired at guests of the store and both victims were struck," police said.

The Joliet Police Department said that anyone with information or video footage is asked to contact the Joliet Police Investigations Division at 815-724-3020 or Will County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-323-6734 or crimestoppersofwillcounty.org if they wish to remain anonymous.

Joliet resident Bob Hernandez went to the scene and produced a Facebook Live video showing several Joliet police detectives and crime scene technicians inside The Niche. Police were interviewing people and in the alley on the side of the building, which is near the corner Van Buren and Ottawa Streets. The shooting occurred between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

When Joliet Patch was downtown Friday afternoon in the same area, there were no signs on the window of the building advertising its opening.

The new clothing store is across the street from The Tomczak Law Group offices.

"We are a urban street wear clothing store where the whole family can shop. Come visit us for the latest fashion right here in Joliet Il," The Niche's Facebook page announced.

Hernandez said he spoke with a vendor Saturday night who provided The Niche with large beaming spotlights for the grand opening. The vendor advised that he was sitting in his truck and he heard at least three or four gunshots.

According to Hernandez, the vendor said he saw one person taken out of the new store on a stretcher by the Joliet Fire Department.

Shortly after Joliet Patch posted its article, one woman commented that she owns a business around the corner from the shooting, on Clinton Street.

"We heard noises that were loud but did not sound like gunshots," the downtown Joliet merchant informed fellow Patch readers. "Right after the sounds we saw about 30 police cars, fire trucks and ambulances head in that direction. We had no idea a business was opening in this location and had no idea a grand opening was happening. It’s heartbreaking that this has happened and it’s heartbreaking for downtown Joliet. This is a shame on so many levels ..."

In November 2018, Joliet Patch wrote an in-depth business story on plans by Joliet property investor Noe Patino to redevelop the former Montgomery Ward store into Plaza 66.

In recent history, the building was known as the Chicago Title company. The property, though, had been vacant in recent years before Patino bought it.