Little Boy's Shooting: Joliet Felon Faces 6 Criminal Charges

JOLIET, IL — Last week's self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face of a little boy who lives in the 300 block of Comstock Street has resulted in six criminal charges filed against Sensei Bennett, who also lives at the same house.

Joliet Police Detective Nick Giordano submitted the criminal complaint against Bennett, who is 26 years old and is a 2016 convicted felon prohibited from owning any guns, according to Tuesday's filing at the Will County Courthouse.

The 2-year-old boy has remained in critical condition at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago after being taken flown there by helicopter from St. Joe's hospital last week. The Joliet shooting happened inside Bennett's residence on Sept. 27 while Bennett was not there.

Court records indicate Bennett has a job working in New Lenox, and he's also a long-time marijuana dealer. He has a 2016 conviction in Will County for unlawful possession of marijuana.

According to the complaint, Bennett is being charged with unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of marijuana, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, reckless conduct and endangering the life or health of a child.

The child’s mother was in the home and was caring for another child at the time of the incident. The victim's mother is cooperating with the investigation, Joliet police said last week.

The bench warrant for Bennett's arrest was signed on Sept. 30 by Will County Judge Victoria Breslin. She set bail for Bennett at $200,000.

On Sept. 27, Bennett "knowingly caused or permitted E.D., a child under the age of 18, to be placed in circumstances that endangered the child's life or health, in that said defendant did not properly store or secure a loaded Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun within his residence," Giordano's criminal complaint noted.

That very same day, Bennett "knowingly possessed with intent to deliver more than 500 grams but not more than 2,000 grams of any substance containing cannabis," the criminal complaint noted.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Bennett had not been taken into custody by Joliet police, yet.

Related Patch coverage: 2-Year-Old Shot Himself In Face, Airlifted To Chicago: Joliet PD