Woman, 20, Shot On Couch Leads To Joliet Teen's Arrest: JPD

JOLIET, IL — Joliet police have made an arrest in connection with the non-fatal shooting of a 20-year-old woman who suffered a bullet wound to her upper right thigh as she sat on a couch more than two weeks ago. The gun went off around 9 p.m. on Jan. 8 inside a house in the 400 block of Irving Street, which is right off Collins Street.

Now, a 16-year-old boy has been charged with several crimes. He's at the River Valley Justice Center facing charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, reckless discharge of a gun, defacing the identification marks on a gun, reckless conduct, unlawful possession of ammunition and having no FOID.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the young woman's injuries were not life-threatening. She was taken to Silver Cross Hospital after being shot.

"Officers determined that the juvenile was handling a loaded .22 caliber handgun while seated next to the victim on a couch," English announced this week. "The handgun then discharged one round which struck the female victim in the right upper thigh."

Joliet police searched the house and found the .22 caliber handgun used in the incident, along with additional .22 caliber ammunition, police reports indicate. The serial number on the gun was defaced. Officers also recovered a loaded 9 mm gun that appeared to have an automatic switch applied to it. Both handguns were in a bedroom. The juvenile was placed into custody without incident, English advised.