Matteson Man Jailed For Joliet Murder Has 'No Idea What's Going On'

Moments after a Matteson man charged with a deadly shooting on Nicholson Street claimed to have "no idea what's going on" during his first court appearance, his lawyer warned him to keep his mouth shut.

"The woods are full of snitches that are trying to get you to say something while you're in custody that can come back and haunt you," public defender Kurt Leinweber told 32-year-old alleged murderer Ruben Wayne Washington.

Will County Judge Roger Rickmon also cautioned Washington that the hearing was being recorded.

Washington made his court appearance the day after his arrest by the Joliet police. He was reportedly captured at a residence in the St. Patrick neighborhood Thursday afternoon.

Washington was wanted for the Saturday slaying of Antonio Tyler, 31. Tyler was killed in an apartment at 110 N. Nicholson St. The warrant for Washington's arrest carried a $3 million bond.

Washington also was charged with possession of a controlled substance during his arrest Thursday. Rickmon put that charge under the same bond.

Washington remained at the Will County jail and made his appearance at the hearing via a closed-circuit video broadcast to the courthouse. He asked Leinweber if there was anyone in the gallery for him. There was not.

Near the end of the brief hearing, Leinweber again stressed the danger of loose lips and told Washington to "suck it up" until he gets a visit from an investigator with the public defender's office sometime early next week.

"You can't make a secure phone call" from the jail, Leinweber warned Washington. "If someone comes to visit you in the video visitation, that's all monitored too."

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