East-Side Shooting Victim Fights For Life, Police Say

JOLET, IL - Interim Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner told Patch that a 20-year-old Rockdale resident suffered life-threatening injuries and the victim was undergoing emergency surgery at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center after being shot numerous times late Friday afternoon on the city's east side.

Roechner told Patch that the Joliet Police Department received a call around 4:15 p.m. in regards to "several juveniles fighting" in the 100 block of Casseday Avenue, right off Cass Street.

While several Joliet Police cars were responding to the call about a fight, there were multiple gunshots fired and "everyone scattered" before the squad cars arrived. The officers found a 20-year-old Rockdale resident on the ground. He had been shot in the neck and thigh, Roechner said. An ambulance rushed the victim to St. Joe's hospital and Roechner said it was his understanding that the young man was to undergo emergency surgery this evening.

The Joliet Police has a large presence investigating the shooting on Friday evening, Roechner said, as investigators were canvassing the neighborhood and working with local businesses to obtain surveillance video. The shooting happened near the Auto Zone and Burger King restaurants, but the interim chief said the shooting does not appear to have any connection to any of the local businesses.

"We just need to remind people to call us if they have video or if they saw anything," he said. "Meanwhile, the (investigators) are out there working hard."

The Joliet Police investigations unit can be reached at 815-724-3020.

ORIGINAL STORY

One person was taken away in an ambulance late Friday afternoon after being shot up numerous times near Joliet's City Center. The shooting happened near the intersection of Cass Street and Casseday Avenue. At least a half dozen Joliet Police officers were still on the scene around 6:30 p.m.

Patch has a call into Interim Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner and will update this story later tonight once Joliet Police investigators sort out more details about the circumstances of this violent crime. The shooting appears to have taken place on Cassaday near the street.

It was not clear whether the shooting victim's injuries were considered life-threatening, however, a Joliet Herald-News article indicated the victim was shot in the victim neck and leg.

Main Photo provided to Patch with permission to use by Bob Hernandez