Joliet Man Takes Gunshot To Leg, Zavala Too Dangerous For Pretrial Release: Judge Rules

JOLIET, IL — A 26-year-old Joliet man has become one of the latest gun violence defendants to lose his freedom thanks to the SAFE-T-Act. Last week, Will County Judge Chrystel Gavlin issued her ruling against Alexander Zavala who stands accused of shooting another person in their leg.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office has charged Zavala with aggravated battery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful possession of weapon and domestic battery.

According to Will County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Elizabeth Matthews, around 7:10 p.m. on March 23, Will County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call involving gunshots and a fight in progress in the 800 block of Gage Street.

When deputies arrived, she said they found the Zavala standing in the middle of the street. There was a fight between Zavala, who says he was at the home to drop off a dog, and two other men, at least one of them an alleged relative of Zavala.

The physical fight led to the gunshots, when Zavala fired his weapon, while one victim was driving away, Matthews pointed out. That victim drove to Silver Cross Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the leg. There were no other injuries reported, two shell casings and a weapon were recovered on scene, the sheriff's agency informed Joliet Patch.

According to the petition to deny pretrial release from the Will County State's Attorney's Office, sheriff's deputy Vallejo arrived at the hospital and obtained a more detailed statement from the shooting victim. He explained that he was in his truck near the house in the 800 block of Gage Street when Zavala arrived, and he saw Zavala and the other person get into a physical fight. Zavala is bigger and was getting the better of the person. That was when he came to assist, and things got evened out. Zavala was unhappy about this, and told the eventual shooting victim that "I got something for you" or words to that effect. The victim feared this was a gun and got in his truck to leave. Zavala did get a gun from Zavala's vehicle, and shot as the young man as he was driving away, striking him in the leg, court documents show.

When the victim got home, his family ensured that he went to the hospital right away.

As for Zavala, "this defendant lacks a FOID card or CCP, based upon available information, although he did exclaim to Deputy Tietz during their initial contact that he has a FOID," prosecutors outlined. "The video from a neighbor home has been obtained and shared in discovery. It is clear from the video that at least three shots are fired, and that the departing pickup truck poses no imminent threat to the shooter."