Anthony's Pub Goes Out Of Business 1 Week After Overnight Murder In Overflow Parking Lot

JOLIET, IL — One weekend after a former Joliet street gang member in his early 30s was fatally shot in the overflow parking lot after patronizing Anthony's Pub and Restaurant, Anthony's is going out of business near the Louis Joliet Mall. The announcement was made around 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Anthony's will shut off the lights at 11 p.m.

"After 12 unforgettable years, tonight will be our final night serving the Joliet community. From our family to yours, thank you for every game day, celebration, late night, shared laugh, and memory made inside these walls. Anthony’s was built by the people who walked through our doors, and we will always be grateful for the incredible community that supported us over the years. Thank you for being part of our story," the announcement shared on Facebook read.

Meanwhile, nobody has been arrested in connection with last weekend's Anthony's slaying.

The killer remains on the loose.

In December 2020, a 37-year-old bouncer at Anthony's Pub and Restaurant was the victim of the Dec. 13 shooting on Interstate 55. Two young men thrown out of the Joliet bar that night waited in a nearby parking lot to follow the bouncer, and they shot him in his truck between Joliet and Shorewood, according to a civil forfeiture complaint.

According to the forfeiture complaint involving Bryson Carter's Malibu, the following events unfolded during the overnight hours of Dec. 13, 2020:

At 2:35 a.m. Illinois State Police learned of a shooting along Interstate 55 in the southbound lanes of Joliet. The shooting victim called 911. He was shot in his left arm and suffered a gunshot wound to his back.

At St. Joe's hospital, the victim told police he worked at Anthony's Pub as a bouncer. That Saturday night, two men were thrown out of the bar after fighting with the bouncers. When the bar closed, the bouncer returned to his pickup truck and left the parking lot.

He noticed a car parked across the street that began to follow him. The bouncer described the car as light, perhaps silver, with LED headlights. The car followed his truck along Voyager Lane, to Route 30 and then southbound along I-55, remaining at a distance.

At one point, the bouncer slowed his truck, hoping the silver car would pass him on I-55. Instead, the car pulled right along next to him and someone opened fire, striking him twice.

The silver car got off at the Route 52 exit, turning left toward West Jefferson Street in Joliet.

Illinois State Police learned that the ID cards of all Anthony's Pub patrons are scanned when they enter. Carter and one of his acquaintances were involved in the fight, the forfeiture complaint states.

On April 22, Joliet Patch reported that at this time of the year, it's not unusual for the Joliet Police Department to respond to Anthony's Pub near the Louis Joliet Mall to make an arrest.

The latest such incident happened last weekend, resulting in 32-year-old Rockdale resident Tyler Jensen being zapped with a Joliet police taser as he was captured, his arrest reports show.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 12:52 a.m. that Saturday, officers were sent to the Anthony’s Restaurant and Pub at 3151 Voyager Lane for a disturbance. Upon arrival, the officers saw a crowd gathered at the front entrance of the business, appearing to argue with security
personnel.

As officers intervened, Jensen pushed past one officer in an attempt to engage in a physical altercation with a security guard, English said. Jensen is further accused of grabbing the officer and attempting to take them to the ground, though he was unsuccessful. He then ran off, the arrest report said.

After falling to the ground during the pursuit, Jensen ignored commands to remain there and continued running, English said. An officer deployed a taser, and Jensen was taken into custody without further incident. He was charged with battery and obstructing a peace officer.

Last November, Joliet Patch ran a story headlined: "Anthony's Pub's Latest Arrest: Chicagoan Sucker Punches Bouncer In Face, Police Say."

In that incident, the Joliet Police Department arrested a 47-year-old man from Chicago's Cicero Avenue in connection with a violent outburst that happened in front of the Anthony's Restaurant and Pub late that Friday night.

According to the arrest logs, Mark Stuhr was charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, resisting a peace officer and criminal trespass.

At 11:47 p.m., a Joliet officer working an extra assignment job at Anthony’s Restaurant and Pub, 3151 Voyager Lane, was notified of a disturbance near the front of the business. As the officer went outside to the front of the building, they observed a man, later identified as Stuhr, punch a security guard in the face, police spokesman Dwayne English said.

The officer intervened and took Stuhr to the ground and placed him into custody following a brief struggle, English noted. Stuhr was transported to the Joliet Police Department, where he was processed and released on a notice to appear.