Gunfire At Collins Street Intersection, 1 Arrest Made: JPD

JOLIET, IL — A Will County judge set bail at $100,000 for 18-year-old Joliet resident John Hernandez. The teenager was arrested by the Joliet Police Department following a gunfire exchange at the busy east-side intersection of Collins and Jackson Streets on Saturday afternoon.

Hernandez, who lives in the 500 block of Campbell Street, was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, possession of stolen gun, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of ammunition, having no FOID and leaving the scene of a property damage crash.

Joliet officers responded to the gunshots near Collins and Jackson around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Moments later, officers learned of a hit and run wreck near Franklin and Benton Streets.

According to the shooting investigation, people inside a gray Chevrolet Impala fired shots at a gray pickup truck, which also returned fire.

"During the shooting, the gray Impala struck a parked vehicle and then fled the area without stopping. It appeared no individuals were struck by gunfire," police reports reflect.

As the investigation unfolded, Joliet police spotted a gray Chevrolet Impala with heavy front-end damage and bullet holes in the front windshield.

Hernandez was on scene with the vehicle and indicated he drove the vehicle, police said. Officers recovered a handgun under the center console and the gun was determined to be stolen, according to the police.

Downtown, Hernandez gave statements to police implicating himself in the gun battle on Collins Street, reports show. From there, Hernandez was booked into the Will County Jail and he remained in custody on Monday night, unable to make his $100,000 bail.