Robbery, Shooting On Hunter Ave: Joliet Teen Arrested

JOLIET, IL — An 18-year-old Joliet resident from South Ottawa Street is now in the Will County Jail facing a $700,000 bail in connection with a July 13 non-fatal shooting of a 43-year-old man who was being robbed, according to Joliet police reports.

Department spokesman Dwayne English notified Patch on Friday that Sean Rathe, of the 1000 block of South Ottawa Street, was arrested Thursday on charges of aggravated battery with a gun, armed robbery, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and residential burglary.

Joliet police detectives have been investigating the shooting for the past four months, prior to Thursday's arrest.

Three months ago, shortly before 4 p.m., a man was shot several times in the 200 block of Hunter Avenue, and he remained in serious condition after being rushed to St. Joe's hospital by a Joliet Fire Department ambulance.

"During the investigation, detectives determined that the suspect had robbed the victim of an undisclosed amount of cash during the incident," Sgt. English revealed Friday. "As this investigation progressed, detectives successfully identified Rathe as the suspect."

On Sept. 15, a warrant was obtained by Joliet police for Rathe's arrest and on Thursday morning, Rathe was taken into custody after making an appearance at the Will County Courthouse for one of his other cases, English noted.