Joliet police are currently investigating a tragic double homicide that claimed the lives of a woman and her four-year-old son over the weekend. The incident unfolded early Sunday morning when officers responded to several 911 calls reporting gunfire in the vicinity of Cleveland Avenue and Dillman Avenue. Witnesses also reported seeing a shirtless man discarding a firearm and fleeing near nearby train tracks.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered a 29-year-old man suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the ankle at a residence on Garnsey Avenue. In a heart-wrenching scene, a 36-year-old woman and her four-year-old son were found unresponsive in the backyard with gunshot wounds.
Inside the home, officers located an 8-year-old boy with special needs, who was also identified as the woman’s son. Fortunately, he was unharmed. Authorities seized a firearm from the scene and are currently working to piece together the motive behind this devastating event.
The injured man was transported to a local hospital and subsequently moved to another facility under police custody, with his condition reported as non-life threatening. The police urge anyone with information regarding this case to reach out at 815-724-3020 or contact Will County Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734.
The community remains in shock over this violent incident, as authorities strive to uncover the circumstances leading up to the tragedy.