Dirksen 8th Grader's Unsolved Murder Isn't Cold, JPD Says

JOLIET, IL — At 7:43 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2019, 13-year-old Javier Cayetano was hanging out with a couple friends when a gunman opened fire, striking all three juveniles, in the 300 block of South May Street. Javier died that night after suffering multiple gunshot wounds.

The gunman who infiltrated Joliet's Reedswood neighborhood that Thursday night got away. He has evaded the Joliet Police Department for the past year.

Last week marked the one-year anniversary of Javier's slaying.

His family has gone without justice. Their loved one's killer has gotten away with their crimes. According to the Delgado Funeral Chapel, Javier was enrolled as an eighth-grader at Dirksen Junior High School on South Midland Avenue. He had been previously attended Jane Addams Middle School in Bolingbrook.

"Javier loved to be outside and be surrounded by his friends," his obituary reads. "Soccer was his favorite sport and enjoyed kicking around the ball when he could. While at home, Javier liked to play video games and watch some of his favorite shows, such as The Walking Dead, Z-Nation, and The Vampire Diaries."

Despite the passage of time, leaders at the Joliet Police Department insist that Javier's slaying remains at the forefront.

According to police, Javier and several friends were walking around the Reedswood neighborhood near Morgan and May Streets when several gunshots were fired after dark.

Two of the juveniles were treated for their gunshot wounds and released from St. Joe's hospital, but Javier died that night.

Although nobody has been arrested for Javier's homicide and the two other attempted murders, the Joliet Police Department recently announced on social media that this "investigation remains active."

Joliet police detectives have collected and continue to collect digital and forensic evidence related to the homicide probe, the agency recently posted on Facebook.

Interviews with witnesses and people in the community continue to happen.

"The Joliet Police Department is committed to holding those responsible for Javier's death accountable," police officials announced this month.

Moreover, Joliet police detectives do believe that some people around the Joliet community have "knowledge of this case who have not yet come forward and some people interviewed have not given entirely truthful statements to detectives."

In any event, Joliet police want people to realize that detectives continue to keep in regular contact with Javier's family and "are committed to seeing justice served in his case and giving his family some resemblance of closure in the loss of their loved one."

If anyone can help solve the Feb. 21, 2019 homicide, you're urged to call the Joliet Police Department detectives at 815-724-3020 or you can call Will County Crime Stoppers and remain anonymous, 800-323-6734.