Ex-Murder Defendant Jesus Zambrano Arrested By Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — Joliet resident Jesus Zambrano, who had his 2013 first-degree murder conviction overturned several years ago and was charged with a non-fatal shooting last May, was arrested Tuesday morning by Joliet police on aggravated domestic battery charges.

Joliet police also arrested his sister, Daniella Zambrano, 28, on battery charges and released her on an I-bond.

Around 5:50 a.m., Joliet officers were sent to the Zambrano family house, in the 1000 block of North Raynor Avenue, for a domestic disturbance. A woman inside was attacked by Jesus Zambrano and his sister, Daniella, according to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English.

"During the argument, Jesus grew angry and began punching the victim about the head and body. Jesus strangled the victim with both hands, causing her to lose consciousness," English indicated. "When the victim regained consciousness, she attempted to call 911 using a smartwatch."

As the woman tried calling 911, Daniella Zambrano pulled the woman's by her hair and punched her in the face, police reports show.

The victim ran outside just as the Joliet officers got to the house.

Will County Jail logs show that Jesus Zambrano was booked into the Will County Jail at 7:27 a.m.

In November, Joliet Patch reported that Jesus Zambrano, who was charge last year with shooting a 31-year-old Joliet resident on the night of May 7, was arrested again Monday night during a traffic stop on the city's east side.

In May, Zambrano's bail was initially set at $500,000 by Will County Judge Fred Harvey in connection with charges of aggravated battery involving the discharge of a gun. Then, in late July, Will County Judge Carmen Goodman decided to lower Zambrano's bail to $100,000, over the objections of the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow, court records show. Zambrano's sister posted the necessary 10 percent, to regain her brother's freedom, on July 30.

During his Nov. 29 arrest, Zambrano was taken into custody following a traffic stop in the 400 block of Landau Avenue, on the city's east side. "Upon search of Zambrano, officers recovered suspected cocaine from his shoe," police spokesman Dwayne English indicated at the time.

Zambrano remained in custody from Nov. 29 until Jan. 12.

Back in 2013, a Will County jury found Zambrano guilty of murder, and he drew a 45-year prison term at the time. Then in 2016, the Illinois Court of Appeals overturned Zambrano's conviction and remanded his murder case back to Will County Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak for a retrial.

In August 2019, a different Will County jury found Jesus Zambrano not guilty of first-degree murder in the May 22, 2009, west side shooting death of Robert Gooch, 36. The Joliet homicide victim was shot in the head inside a third-floor apartment at the Larkin Village apartment complex during an apparent lover's triangle.