Gunfire, 5 Joliet Teens Arrested, Joliet Central Put On Lockdown

JOLIET, IL — Joliet police announced that 18-year-old Amarion Newell, three 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old were all arrested Thursday afternoon in connection with a shooting in the parking lot of the Taquerias Atotonilco restaurant in the 500 block of Cass Street.

Nobody was injured by the gunfire. None of the businesses appeared to be hit by any gunfire, according to Joliet police.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the following events happened around 3:30 p.m. Thursday:

• In the 500 block of East Cass, Joliet police saw a large group of juveniles in the parking lot of Taquerias Atotonilco.
• Officers heard one gunshot and the group of juveniles began running away.
• One person ran west on Cass Street who appeared to have something in his waistband, and the other juveniles ran toward the 300 block of East Cass Street. Police lost sight of the suspect that appeared to have an item concealed in his waistband.
• Near the Walgreens parking lot, officers contacted Newell and four juveniles, and all of them refused to follow Joliet police commands. Everyone was taken into custody following a brief struggle.
• Officers recovered one spent shell casing from the parking lot of Atotonilco Taqueria.
• Joliet Central High School was placed on a brief lockdown as a precautionary measure.
• Newell was arrested and released on an I-bond for obstructing a peace officer, Joliet police said. The four juveniles were arrested and released to their parents on the same charge.