Joliet Teen, 17, Shot At Western Avenue Grocery Store

JOLIET, IL — A 17-year-old boy remains hospitalized at AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center after being shot Thursday night at the Western Grocery Store.

The boy was shot around 7:40 p.m. and Joliet's Fire Department sent crews from Ambulance 5 and Engine 5 to the store at Hickory and Western. The boy was conscious and alert after suffering a gunshot wound to his abdomen, according to the Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey.

At the hospital, the shooting victim was in stable condition, authorities said.

Several Joliet police officers roped off the entire store and the parking lot. Other officers walked in and out of the store after dark collecting the physical evidence. The shooter got away before the police arrived at the scene.

Another Joliet police car was positioned a couple blocks south of Western Avenue, detouring traffic away from the store.

By 8:30 p.m., officers tore down their crime scene tape and allowed customers to re-enter the business.