Murder Charges Filed In Dec. 23 Joliet Slaying

JOLIET, IL - Joliet's Police Department on Thursday filed first-degree murder charges against Joliet teenager Daniel Briceno in connection with the Dec. 23 gunshot homicide of 19-year-old Jermaine Peete. The slaying happened around 12:30 a.m. in the 600 block of Dover Street.

Briceno, who lives in the 600 block of Dover, was taken into custody by Joliet Police officers on a probation violation several hours after Peete's death. Briceno, 18, has remained locked away inside Will County's Jail on a no-bond hold. During that time, Joliet Police detectives continued to amass more evidence to convince the Will County State's Attorney's Office to charge Briceno with Peete's murder, which happened on Thursday.

As a result, Briceno now faces three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery involving a gun and one count of aggravated discharge of a gun.

According to Peete's obituary that was handled by the Minor-Morris Funeral Home: "Jermaine graduated from Joliet Township High School in May 2018. He loved being a father to his one and only child, J.J.; loved playing basketball, wrestling, boxing, and spending time with family and friends. Jermaine was a part of the Joliet Community Action Network male mentoring program with his grandmother and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity."

As for the murder defendant, Joliet Patch published a short crime article on him this past summer. At the time, Briceno was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, illegal possession of a gun and having no FOID card.

RELATED: Joliet Teen Caught With Gun: Cops

Original Homicide Story: Joliet Teen Gunned Down In City's First December Homicide

Obituary photo of Jermaine Peete via Minor-Morris Funeral Home