Gang Suppression Unit Captures Deamontae Hunter Near Forest Park School In Joliet: Sheriff's Office

JOLIET, IL — Deamontae Hunter, who was previously identified and wanted for questioning by the Illinois State Police in connection with a still-unsolved murder along the I&M Canal Trail near Rockdale, is back in the Will County Jail following Thursday's pre-dawn gang unit bust by the Will County Sheriff's Office.

Hunter's capture happened during a drug investigation at the house in the 1200 block of California Avenue.

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Joliet Patch has produced a number of stories on Hunter over the years including one from six years ago headlined, "Stolen AK-47 Rifle Seized After Shorewood Subdivision Chase." In 2020, Shorewood Police Department arrested the Joliet area man who had been wanted for questioning by the Illinois State Police in connection with the July 2019 killing of Joliet resident Floyd Faint Jr.

At the time of their arrest of Deamonte T. Hunter, Shorewood police say they recovered two loaded pistols and one fully loaded AK-47 assault rifle inside the abandoned Mercury Mountaineer. Hunter was a front-seat passenger inside the vehicle, police said.

Fast forward to this week's arrest.

According to sheriff's spokeswoman Elizabeth Matthews, at 5 a.m., the Will County Sheriff's Gang Suppression Unit conducted a drug investigation into the residence at 1211 California Ave, directly across the street from Forest Park School. Upon executing the search warrant, members of the gang suppression unit secured the residence, locating four people inside.

While conducting the search, 29-year-old Deamontae Hunter was found inside a locked bedroom by himself, in close proximity to a large amount of crack cocaine and a loaded gun, Matthews said.

"Hunter, who has an extensive criminal history involving firearms and is a known gang member, was taken into custody and transported to the ADF. The firearm is being sent for testing for involvement in any other crimes," Matthews noted.

A second person, Dermetrious Lindsey, was located in a bedroom by himself; crack cocaine packaged for sale was located in that room, along with indicators of narcotics sales, she indicated. He was also taken into custody and brought to the ADF. The other two people were later released without charges, but GSUs investigation remains ongoing.

Hunter was charged with the following:
Armed Habitual Criminal
Armed Violence
Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon
Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver
Possession of a Controlled Substance

Lindsey was charged with the following:
Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver
Possession of a Controlled Substance