Burning Car On Rowell Ave. Belonged To Murder Victim: Sheriff

JOLIET, IL - The Will County is urging people to use their confidential tip line if anyone has information that may lead to the people responsible for Tuesday night's double murder and car fire on Rowell Avenue. For the first time since Wednesday, the sheriff's office issued a press release update late Friday morning. On Thursday, the coroner's office announced that both victims have been identified as young men from Joliet, Xavier Sallie, 19, and Don Tae Ray Morgan, 21. Both died of a single gunshot wound.

"Will County Sheriff’s detectives are continuing their search for the offender/s of the double homicide that took place June 26, 2018 in Joliet Township," the press release states. "Detectives believe the vehicle that Sallie and Morgan were found in was intentionally set on fire in order to conceal the murders. Xavier Sallie was the owner of the vehicle, a 2004 Mercedes."

The sheriff's urged anyone with information about the victims prior to the incident, or had contact them in the days prior to their double murders should call the Sheriff's Office at 815-727-8574, extension 4950.

"This number will connect you to a detective who will be available over the weekend hours and for the remainder of this investigation."

In the alternative, people can go online to www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org and leave a confidential crime tip, the agency recommended.

On Wednesday, authorities positively identified one of the murder victims as being 19-year-old Xavier Sallie, a Joliet resident who was arrested last year for having a stolen gun. This March, Sallie was in jail after being charged with manufacturing marijuana.

One person who knew Morgan told Joliet Patch that "he was a good kid around the wrong people and he doesn't have a record." The acquaintance also noted that he was employed Amazon at the Joliet facility and he had been with them for a while.

One of the key questions for the Will County Sheriff's Department to unravel surrounds the scene of the original crime. Were the two men murdered on Rowell Avenue near Sugar Creek Drive where the car was set on fire? Or, perhaps, were they gunned down somewhere else around Joliet and their slain bodies were driven to the secluded location, where the car was set on fire?

Unless the killer lived nearby, within walking distance of the crime scene, it's possible that at least two people were involved, based on the known facts of the crime scene. One person had to drive the bodies to the site on Rowell Avenue and another vehicle would be needed for a getaway.

The East Joliet Fire Department was alerted to the car fire around 10 p.m. Tuesday.

ORIGINAL STORIES: Burned Body Was Joliet Teenager

ORIGINAL STORIES: 2 Burned Bodies Found In Joliet

Images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor