Gunshots In St. Pat's Area: Joliet Police Make Arrest

JOLIET, IL — On Thursday afternoon, people in the St. Pat's Neighborhood heard the sounds of several gunshots and when Joliet police tried to question 27-year-old Lamaris George Jr., he tried running away, according to department spokesman Sgt. Dwayne English.

The gunshots happened around 3:40 p.m. in the 200 block of Illinois Street. Joliet police regularly investigate criminal activity on Illinois Street.

When officers arrived at the scene of Thursday's daytime shooting, police found spent shell casings in the area, but it appeared nothing had been struck, English noted.

As for George, he was seen in the area near the same time of the shooting, English stated.

Police tracked him down in the Hunter Avenue and Marion Street and that's when "George ran from officers who then caught up to George and placed him into custody without incident in the 0-50 block of Blackman Avenue," English announced.

George was booked into the Will County Jail because he had an active Will County arrest warrant for three counts of domestic battery and one count of interfering with the reporting of domestic violence. Last Aug. 17, George was accused of striking a woman he was romantically acquainted with and taking her phone, police reports reflect.

He was also arrested Thursday on charges of obstructing justice.

"The shots fired incident remains under investigation," English informed Joliet Patch.

Jail logs indicated that George lives in the 1400 block of Newton Avenue. That's on the far east side off Manhattan Road.