Driver Shoots At Another Joliet Motorist: Police

JOLIET, IL — A shooting on Joliet's east side from back in May has been solved with more criminal charges for Campbell Street resident Johnny Hernandez, who has been accused in numerous shootings across Joliet over the past couple years, according to various criminal complaints on file at the Will County Courthouse.

On Wednesday, Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English issued another press release regarding the latest set of felony weapons charges for Hernandez, who lives in the 500 block of Campbell.

Around supper time on Tuesday, Hernandez was booked into the Will County Jail — for the fourth time since March 2021. This time, Joliet police are charging Hernandez with aggravated discharge of a gun, aggravated assault and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

According to English:

Around 6:10 p.m. on May 25, Joliet police learned of a drive-by shooting on the east side near Briggs and Cass streets, where the victim's Kia Optima was struck by multiple rounds of gunfire.

At the time, a woman was driving the Kia Optima and she had a male passenger.

"A male passenger of a vehicle behind the victim’s vehicle began firing a handgun at her vehicle," English said Wednesday.

He said the woman was eventually able to escape the car chasing after her near Lockport.

Neither victim was injured by the gunfire, but the rear of her vehicle had been struck multiple times, English noted.

"Following an extensive investigation, Joliet Police Detectives identified Hernandez as the suspect in this case," English announced Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Joliet police got a warrant to arrest Hernandez and police saw him driving near Clement Street and Campbell Street. His car was stopped by Joliet police in the 500 block of Campbell Street, where he lives, and the 20-year-old criminal defendant was taken into custody without any issues, English told Patch.

Hernandez's new bail was set at $150,000, jail logs reflect.

The Joliet 20-year-old was most recently in the Will County Jail from Aug. 25 until Oct. 1 when his bail was $50,000. He was also in the county jail from June 15 until July 15 when his bail got reduced from $1 million to $100,000.

Back in 2020, Hernandez was in the jail from Sept. 26 until Nov. 20. In that case, Hernandez's bail was reduced from $100,000 to $50,000.

Here's a sampling of Joliet Patch crime articles about Johnny Hernandez:

Notorious Joliet Criminal Defendant Captured After Latest Shooting

$1M Bail For 2 Joliet Brothers In Miami Street Shooting

Gunfire At Collins Street Intersection, Arrest Made