Shot By Joliet Police: Cord Whitmore's Trial Remains Iffy

JOLIET, IL — One year after Cord Whitmore was shot by Joliet police officer Brian Lanton at Whitmore's house in the 1200 block of Nicholson Street, questions linger about whether the 30-year-old criminal defendant will stand trial on his lone felony charge of aggravated assault.

Will County Judge Carmen Goodman has scheduled a hearing in Whitmore's felony case for Feb. 25 in Courtroom 503. The judge indicated in court records that "a bona fide doubt exists as to the defendant's fitness to stand trial."

Goodman appointed the Will County Court Services to determine Whitmore's mental fitness to stand trial. As a condition of his bail, the judge indicated that Whitmore is required to contact the mental health unit of the Will County Court Services.

Whitmore has hired Palos Heights criminal defense lawyer Daniel Calandriello to represent him in his aggravated assault case in Will County.

Last May, the Will Grundy Major Crimes Task Force announced that veteran Joliet police officer Brian Lanton was justified in his shooting of Whitmore on Jan. 28, 2021.

Whitmore spent a few days recovering from his gunshot wounds at St. Joe's hospital before being booked into the Will County Jail. The Office of Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow subsequently charged Whitmore with aggravated assault.

The non-fatal shooting happened around 10:20 a.m. Jan. 28 in Joliet's Cunningham Neighborhood area. Whitmore lives at the house with his mother, and she was not home at the time of the shooting. Whitmore was shot three times by Lanton.

Joliet police officials announced that "at 10:17 a.m. officers of the Joliet Police Department were dispatched to 1200 Nicholson Street in Joliet for a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers spoke with Cordairel M. Whitmore on scene. It was reported to members of the task force, that one of the officers went to his squad car to obtain paperwork on mental health facilities to provide to Whitmore.

"As Cordairel M. Whitmore was speaking with Joliet Police Officer Brian Lanton on the front porch of the residence, the offender produced what appeared to be a handgun and pointed it at Officer Brian Lanton."

According to the criminal complaint, Whitmore displayed a BB gun, knowing Lanton was a police officer performing duties. Prosecutors maintain that Whitmore's behavior on Jan. 28, 2021, placed Lanton "in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery."

Whitmore spent about two weeks in the Will County Jail. His bail, initially set at $100,000, was reduced to $5,000 and his mother posted the necessary $500 cash to regain her son's freedom on Feb. 19, 2021, jail records reflect.