Joliet Police Solve Fatal Stabbing At Harrah's Casino Hotel

JOLIET, IL — Less than 24 hours after the fatal stabbing of a 76-year-old man visiting the Harrah's Casino Hotel in downtown Joliet, Joliet Police say they have solved the brutal crime, arresting a 25-year-old Chicago man named Robert A. Watson.

Squad cars rushed to 151 North Joliet Street around 10 p.m. Sunday, March 24, regarding a call for an apparent stabbing.

The homicide victim, Emanuel Burgrino, was found in the casino hotel's hallway, suffering stab wounds, police said. The resident of Hales Corners, Wisconsin, was taken by ambulance to St. Joe's hospital where he died of his injuries.

The Will County Coroner's Office revealed that the Wisconsin man died of multiple stab wounds and he was pronounced dead around 11 p.m. on Sunday at the St. Joe's emergency room.

On Monday evening, Joliet Police revealed the sequence of events that led to Watson's arrest less than 24 hours after the Joliet homicide. Harrah's Casino is less than two blocks from the downtown Joliet Public Library on Ottawa Street.

Joliet Police responded to the library at 1:25 p.m. on Monday. Police were tipped off about someone matching the murder suspect's description inside the library, reports show.

Watson was located on the second floor of the library, Joliet Police said. "Watson was wearing clothing similar to what was seen in the surveillance photos. Watson was taken to the Joliet Police Department to be interviewed in reference to the case without incident."

Then, on Monday afternoon, Joliet Police say their detectives cracked the case.

"Detectives were able to determine that Watson was the person who fatally stabbed the victim at the Harrah's Casino Hotel hallway," Joliet Police announced. "Detectives are still investigating what led Watson to attack and fatally stab the victim."

On Monday night, Watson was moved to the Will County Adult Detention Facility where he's been booked into custody for the offense of murder.

According to Joliet Police reports, officers determined "that as Burgrino left his hotel room, the suspect attacked him. The suspect then stabbed Burgrino and left the hotel prior to police arrival."