Unsolved Murder In Joliet Township: Route 53 Killer Remains Free

JOLIET, IL — For the past seven-plus months, the Will County Sheriff's Office has not made any arrests in connection with the Aug. 15 fatal shooting of 20-year-old motorist Lorenzo Gibbons Jr. The Joliet Township unsolved homicide, however, remains the focus of a Will County Crime Stoppers reward.

The Will County Crime Stoppers are profiling last summer's slaying in Preston Heights as the main unsolved homicide on their website in terms of seeking the community's help.

According to Crime Stoppers, the Will County Sheriff's Office is still seeking help identifying the suspect or suspects in last August's slaying of Gibbons.

At 10:55 p.m., Will County Sheriff's deputies were sent to the Pheasant Run Apartments at 1912 South Chicago Street after learning of a car crash. At the large apartment complex, deputies saw Gibbons in the driver's seat of his car. He was unconscious, suffering a gunshot to his head.

"Gibbons' vehicle had two bullet holes in the rear bumper as well as a single bullet hole in the rear window," according to Will County Crime Stoppers. "It was later discovered that Gibbons' vehicle was attempting to turn into the Pheasant Run Apartment Complex. Gibbons was shot at by a passing vehicle as he attempted to turn into the Pheasant Run Apartment Complex."

The Joliet Township apartment complex along Route 53 has more than 145 apartment units.

Last August, Joliet Patch reported that Gibbons was rushed by ambulance to the AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center. Emergency room doctors in Joliet had Gibbons airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

Gibbons died from his injuries around 4:45 p.m. the following day, in Cook County.

Will County Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. People with information about the Gibbons slaying are urged to call Will County Sheriff’s Detective Shaun Moran at (815) 727-8574, extension 4914.

Additionally, people can leave anonymous tips on the Will County Sheriff’s Office website at www.willcosheriff.org/submit-a-crime-tip. You can also contact the Will County Crime Stoppers by telephone at 800-323-6734 or submit an anonymous tip online.

At the time of the Gibbons homicide last August, the Will County Sheriff's Office chose not to release any information acknowledging the Joliet Township homicide had taken place.

Days later, Joliet Patch sent Will County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Dan Jungles a written question, asking him why the sheriff's office has not put out any information about the crime.

"The WCSO has not put out any information in regards to this crime, due to the fact that by doing so jeopardizes the integrity of the case," Jungles responded. "Publishing information in regards to this investigation will greatly diminish the solvability of this case at this time."

Related Patch coverage:

Will County Deputy Chief's Petty Punishment Won't Stop Reporter

Fatal Shooting On Chicago Street: Motorist, 20, Dies