Joliet Cocaine Dealer Murdered On Cora Street

JOLIET, IL — A 24-year-old Lockport man died early Thursday morning after being shot on the city's near west side. Joliet Police announced the homicide occurred around 12:20 a.m. in the 800 block of Cora Street. At the scene, officers found two people lying in an alley, however, one of them, a 19-year-old, "did not have any injuries," the police press release indicated.

An ambulance from the Joliet Fire Department rushed the 24-year-old shooting victim to St. Joe's Hospital, and that's where he was pronounced dead. The Will County Coroner's Office identified the homicide victim as being Dearis J. Evans, of Lockport.

Joliet Police said the two men on Cora Street were both inside a vehicle when the shooter opened fire.

Joliet Police have asked anybody with video surveillance between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 1 a.m. Thursday to call the investigations unit at 815-724-3020.

"The area of focus is from east of Nicholson Street to Broadway Street and the area north of Ruby Street to Moran Street," police advised.

Evans, court records show, used to live on Joliet's Campbell Street. In 2015, Evans pleaded guilty to dealing cocaine in Joliet and drew a six-year prison sentence at the Illinois Department of Corrections. He got credit for serving about 75 days in custody awaiting trial.

The March 2015 bill of indictment stated that Evans was delivering between 15 and 100 grams of cocaine on Feb. 19, 2015.

At the time of his homicide, Evans was awaiting trial after being charged in July with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Evans had hired private counsel, Paul Napolski, of Joliet's Essington Road, who filed a motion on July 30 to consolidate and reduce his client's bail, which was set at $300,000 and $500,000 respectively.

"The defendant is confident that if released, he would be able to return to work full time thus continuing to be a productive member of society," Napolski's motion from July 30 stated. "The defendant has retained private counsel regarding this matter and the defendant intends to move this case forward as quickly as possible."

Evans, Will County Jail logs show, was incarcerated from July 17 until his release on Aug. 16.

In August, Joliet Patch produced an in-depth article about Dearis Evans headlined: "Jeep In Joliet Homicide Investigation Faces Police Forfeiture."

Joliet Patch reported that the 24-year-old Lockport man who faced charges of dealing cocaine in Joliet this summer may lose his 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee as a forfeited police asset.

Court documents from the forfeiture case against Evans revealed that his Jeep Grand Cherokee "is known to Joliet Police as a suspect vehicle in an ongoing homicide investigation."

According to the forfeiture complaint, two Joliet Police officers tried to stop the 2016 Jeep on July 6 at the intersection of Arthur Avenue and Princeton Street after the officers realized the Jeep was being sought in connection with a Joliet homicide case, court records reflect.

The Jeep, however, sped away from the Joliet Police officers, traveling "50 mph in a 25-mph zone, which was a residential neighborhood ... Dearis Evans disobeyed at least six stop signs while fleeing," the complaint said.

Thursday's article about the Evans slaying drew dozens of comments from Joliet Patch readers on social media. One woman remarked: "Holy cow he had a rap sheet 2 pages long ... how he wasn’t in jail longer surprises me. Bad decisions made by this young man. RIP now. Prayers for his family during these dark days ahead."

The Evans slaying was one of two homicides that Joliet Police Department detectives worked overnight. A woman was found slain around 5 a.m.

Last week, 33-year-old Jesse Hannah was murdered while he was outside on the city's east side in the Ridgewood area. A 19-year-old man who was with him was also critically injured by the gunfire. That crime occurred near the intersection of Elgin and Krakar Avenues.