Police Reveal Killer In Joliet Triple Murder-Suicide

JOLIET, IL — Late Friday afternoon, the Joliet Police Department revealed that Joliet resident Brandyn Lee fatally shot his 28-year-old girlfriend, Jacquelon Gaskin, 6-year-old daughter, Gianna Lee, and 1-year-old son, Giovanni Lee, on the second floor of their house on Joliet's east side.

After killing his family, police say 34-year-old Lee put the gun to his own head and pulled the trigger. Neighbors heard loud screaming coming from the house at 503 Whitley Ave. and called police shortly before the shooting. The house is near the corner of Wilson Street a few blocks from Richards Street and the Washington Junior High School.

“From the evidence at the scene and witness statements, the investigation has led detectives to the determination that Lee fatally shot all three victims at the residence before shooting himself,” Joliet Police announced Friday evening. “All four died of a single gunshot wound. A firearm was recovered at the scene and is believed to be the firearm used.”

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Joliet Police also revealed that police officers had never responded to any calls of domestic violence involving Lee and Gaskin at the house on Whitley.

The triple murder has impacted scores of people across Joliet and it was especially horrifying because two small children were brutally gunned down in the sanctity of their own home. The murder victims were the granddaughter and great-grandchildren of Will County Board member Herb Brooks, who is also a clergyman.

“These are the worst types of calls that officers can respond to,” Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner said. “Anytime a person is killed it's a heartbreaking situation, but when children are killed, it's incomprehensible. It is something that I will never understand. My heart goes out to the family of the victims.”