Store Owner's Son, Suspect Killed in Joliet Food Mart Shootout

Updated at 8:50 a.m. Jan. 20.

A store employee and an alleged suspect were killed Monday afternoon in an attempted armed robbery at a Joliet convenience store, police said.

Police confirmed Tuesday morning that the clerk was the 24-year-old son of the store owner. ABC-7 identified the victim as Mohammad Eid. Officials were not releasing the name of the deceased suspect, also 24, as of early Tuesday.

Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton said two male suspects entered Gardner Food Mart, 1000 Gardner St., at about 3:15 p.m. One suspect brandished a handgun, and the store clerk drew a weapon from behind the counter, Benton said.

The two men exchanged gunfire, Benton said, and both were fatally shot. Eid was transported via ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

The wounded robber was able to flee the scene and was later dropped off at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was also pronounced dead, police said.

Two people, described by police as vendors, were in the store talking to Eid when the suspects entered, according to Deputy Chief Edgar Gregory.

The second suspect, described as a black male about 5’9” with a slim build, also fled and was still at large as of Tuesday morning. Benton said the suspect was wearing a light-colored, possibly gray or white, hooded sweatshirt.

Benton said police interviewed two people who dropped the fatally injured suspect off at the hospital.

On Tuesday morning, Gregory said the interviews did not result in any arrests, and the second suspect remained at large.

Benton said investigators executed several search warrants on Monday night, and continue to work to locate the second suspect.

Benton said it was premature to say whether investigators believe the suspects could be connected to other recent armed robberies in Joliet.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Joliet police at 815-724-3020 or Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734.

Developing story — check back for updates.

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