Joliet Teen Dies After Republic Ave. Shooting, 2 Arrested

JOLIET, IL — The Will County Coroner's Office announced that the 17-year-old teen who was shot Friday afternoon in the 200 block of Republic Avenue has died. Joliet resident Jeremiah Frazier died Sunday afternoon at the Amita Saint Joseph Medical Center from multiple gunshot wounds, coroner's officials said. An autopsy will be performed Monday.

Also, on Monday morning, Joliet police announced that Javontae W. Gray, 22, had been arrested on charges of aggravated discharge of a gun, reckless discharge of a gun, obstructing justice and obstructing a peace officer. Gray was booked into the county jail on $2 million bail around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. He lives in the 600 block of Elmwood Avenue.

A second person, Rasean L. Stokes, 18, of Joliet, was also arrested on charges of aggravated discharge of a gun and reckless discharge of a gun.

According to Joliet police, Frazier was dropped at St. Joe's hospital in critical condition, and he died on Sunday from his injuries.

"Officers were able to determine that two vehicles were driving in opposite directions on Republic Avenue. At one point occupants from both vehicles began firing rounds at each other resulting in the victim being shot while inside one of the vehicles," Joliet police announced. "Gray dropped off the victim at the hospital and left. Gray returned to the hospital a short time later where he was arrested."

According to Joliet police, Stokes was also inside one of the vehicles involved in the shooting and was arrested later on Friday. Stokes, who lives in the 1400 block of Yarrow Drive, was booked into the county jail around 3 a.m. Saturday. His bail was set at $1 million.

"This is still an active ongoing investigation and detectives continue to follow-up on leads as they come in," police announced on Monday.

Around a dozen Joliet police cars were on the scene Friday afternoon after reports of shots fired in the 200 block of Republic Avenue. A witness who works at a nearby business told Patch they heard around 12 gunshots.

Joliet police say officers arrived at the scene of the shooting at 12:09 p.m. The shooting victim was taken to the nearby Amita St. Joseph Medical Center in critical condition, police said.