Joliet Double Murder: Tommie McDonald Arrested

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department announced that detectives have solved Wednesday's early morning double homicide on South Chicago Street with the arrest of 41-year-old Joliet resident Tommie McDonald. He has been booked into custody in connection with the gun deaths of 53-year-old Bernard Marble and 45-year-old Tracy L. Williams, both of Joliet, police said.

"During the course of the investigation, officers were able to determine that McDonald was inside the vehicle along with Williams and Marble. An argument ensued and at one point McDonald shot both Williams and Marble," Joliet Police announced.

The Will County Coroner's Office reported that both of the victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds that resulted in their death.

McDonald was booked into the Will County Jail at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. He lives in the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue, jail records indicate.

Joliet police say the shooting occurred around 12:50 a.m. near Chicago Street and 5th Avenue. Officers found the men inside a sports utility vehicle. The 45-year-old Williams was already dead when police got to the scene.

Marble was rushed by ambulance to the Amita Health Saint Joseph Medical Center "where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries," police said.

The Will County Coroner's Office said Williams was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m. while Marble was pronounced dead at 1:20 a.m. at the St. Joe's emergency room.

Williams was fatally shot as he sat behind the wheel while Marble was shot in the back seat, according to Joliet Police.

Williams, jail logs show, spent time in the Will County Jail in 2019, 2018, 2013 and 2010. His 2019 charges included being a felon in possession of a gun.

Although McDonald ran away from the crime scene, Joliet Police officers say they tracked the suspected shooter down in the 200 block of Mississippi Avenue, and he was taken into custody for questioning on Wednesday.

During his interview with homicide detectives, McDonald implicated himself as being involved in the shooting, Joliet Police said.

The gun used in the South Chicago Street slayings was also recovered from the crime scene, police said.

"Due to the great work done by our officers, detectives and evidence technicians throughout the night, the person responsible for this tragic and senseless act is in custody," Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner said in a statement issued by the department.

Marble, who lived in the 100 block of Allen Street, was recently in the Will County Jail for about 10 days in December after being arrested by Joliet police on charges of possession of controlled substances, which was cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was freed on Dec. 20 after posting 10 percent of his $15,000 bail.

In December 2018, Marble was sentenced to 18 months at the Illinois Department of Corrections. Marble had been arrested for domestic battery and at the time of Marble's arrest, Joliet police found he had 3 grams of heroin in his possession, court files show.

Marble's previous Will County criminal convictions included: theft in 2012, attempted burglary in 1999, burglary in 1997, burglary in 1998, retail theft in 1997, court files show. Marble was also charged with felony theft in 2017 after Will County prosecutors alleged that Marble stole wheel caps from a Cadillac Escalade belonging to the Hawk Chevrolet auto dealership in Joliet.

Joliet police detectives closed down South Chicago Street between 1:15 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. as part of the investigation into the violent crime. The area of focus was from around McDonough Street to I-80, the police announced on social media.

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