WCSO Press Releases

   Will County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence on the 1600 block of Fairmount Avenue in Lockport on Friday, October 14, 2022, around 8:23pm.    Deputies were advised that multiple shots had been fired and two individuals had been struck outside the residence while sitting in a vehicle.

    Upon arrival, deputies immediately began providing medical aid to two male subjects who were located outside the vehicle.  One subject, age 36, a resident of the home located on Fairmount, suffered gunshot wounds to his face, hand, and leg.  The second subject, age 34, of Lockport, suffered gunshot wounds to his back.  Lockport Township Fire personnel arrived on scene and transported both victims to Silver Cross where they were stabilized but in critical condition.  Both victims were later transported to Chicago hospitals for further treatment. Both remain in critical condition.

    Information gathered from the victims at the scene and other area neighbors was that the two victims had been inside the residence and went to leave in their vehicle when unknown subjects approached the vehicle from behind and began firing weapons directly into the vehicle.  A total of 33 shell casings from different types of firearms were found on scene.  It is believed that the offenders were on foot and no identifying information has been gathered. 

    Investigators have been canvassing the neighborhood and surrounding area to collect video surveillance footage and gather additional information.  The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to assist them with sharing any information that you may know regarding this shooting.  You can call the Sheriff’s Investigation Unit at 815-727-8574 ext: 4965 or go to the Sheriff’s website at www.willcosheriff.org and click on “Submit A Crime Tip”. 

-end-

Troy Fire Protection District

Troy Fire Chief Andrew Doyle

815-725-2149

Troy Fire Protection District responded to a fire at Tri-County Stockdale, a farm equipment store, after a 911 call was received at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 19.

Four of the six buildings at Tri-County Stockdale, 25520 West Black Road in Shorewood, were destroyed by the fire. The buildings stored fertilizer, pesticides, seed, feed, and other agricultural products that produced a toxic smoke when they burned.

A shelter-in-place order was put in place around 7 a.m. for a 2-mile radius northeast of the fire because of the smoke. The order was lifted around 8 a.m., but residents with respirator issues should call 911 if they experience breathing difficulties.

The fire is under control at this time and fire personnel will remain on scene monitoring the situation throughout the night.

No one was injured and no one was at the business when the fire began. Chickens and two exotic birds that were in the building were rescued by emergency personnel.

Troy Fire was assisted by 15 fire departments and around 60 firefighters. Water tenders, or tankers, were called to the scene to provide more water than the fire hydrant could provide.

The structures that burned are considered pole buildings and heavy equipment is being brought to the site to lift the metal pieces off the remaining hot spots.   

Black Road, between County Line and River Road, remains closed at this time as water continues to be shuttled to the site. Avoid the area. 

Air quality will continue to be monitored throughout the next few days.

Fire investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are also on the scene but may not be able to enter into the buildings for some time to determine the cause of the fire.

Tri-County Stockdale’s managers are being interviewed at this time, but no cause for the fire has been determined.

  The Will County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene of a tragic three-vehicle accident last evening, June 21, around 5:30pm.  The accident occurred on 143^rd Street, just west of Hillcrest Road in Homer Glen.  Northwest Homer Fire, Homer Fire, and Lemont Fire personnel were on scene to assist the seven people who were involved in the accident and were suffering from multiple injuries. 

   Throughout the evening, Sheriff’s Traffic Investigators reconstructed the accident.  Preliminary reports indicate that the driver of a Nissan SUV, Chris Haramija, age 37, of Joliet, was traveling westbound when he went into oncoming traffic.  The Nissan struck a Lincoln SUV, driven by a 55-year-old male who refused medical treatment at the scene.  The Nissan then struck a Hyundai head on causing the engine compartment to catch fire and engulf into flames.  The Hyundai was driven by a 49-year-old female who suffered extensive injuries. She was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.  Medical staff advised that she would be transferred to a Chicago hospital for further treatment.    She was traveling with a front seat passenger, a 77-year-old male, who was transported to Silver Cross and succumbed to his injuries.  A second passenger, riding in the back seat, also succumbed to her injuries at the scene.  She was 73 years old.   The three were family members and were from Orland Park. 

 Haramija was transported to an area hospital with multiple injuries.  He was cited for improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and transportation of open alcohol.   His front seat passenger, a male, age 41, suffered extensive injuries and was listed in critical condition.   The rear seat passenger, a male, age 33, was transported to an area hospital with multiple injuries.  Medical staff advised he was in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.  

This incident remains an open investigation.  

The Will County Coroner will be releasing the names of the deceased when appropriate. 

-end-kh  

   Will County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 500 block of Miami St. in Joliet Township around 11pm, Tuesday, June 14, regarding a shots fired call.  Upon arrival, deputies met with two individuals (a male in his 40’s and a female in her 30’s) who stated that while sitting on their front porch two known subjects approached them on foot and began firing several rounds at them.  The subjects then fled the scene.  The victims identified the subjects as John Roy Hernandez, Jr. and Angel Santiago-Vargas.   

   The male was not injured however, the female, an acquaintance of the male victim, suffered two non-life threatening gunshot wounds; one to her right elbow and to the top of her right foot.   East Joliet Fire transported her to Silver Cross Hospital where she was treated and released.   

  While canvassing the area deputies discovered eleven 9mm handgun casings in the roadway, broken glass to the front door, and multiple bullet holes in the siding of the home. 

   Due to deputy’s knowledge and several prior encounters with Hernandez, Jr. and Santiago-Vargas, several deputies and Joliet Police officers responded to the area of the 700 block of Garnsey Avenue where the suspects were known to frequent.  When officers arrived, they located the two subjects and a foot pursuit immediately ensued.  Hernandez and Vargas were apprehended by officers.  Both were interviewed by detectives, both refused to cooperate, and both were ultimately charged. 

John Roy Hernandez, Jr., age 20, of 518 Campbell St. in Joliet was charged with  two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, one count of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and violation of an order of protection.  He is being held on a $1 million dollar bond (10% to apply).

Angel Santiago-Vargas, age 21, of 518 Campbell St. in Joliet was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.  He is being held on a $1 million dollar bond (10% to apply).

-end-kh

Full story »

At approximately 3:40 PM, the Romeoville Police Department was contacted by several individuals inside of the Fifth Third Bank located at 275 S. Weber Road for a man with a gun call.  The callers stated there was an armed man inside of the bank, who had taken hostages, demanding that officers respond to the location.  Romeoville Police responded and established a perimeter around the business and surrounding area.

Members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team were summoned to the scene. Romeoville Officers were able to communicate with the subject who agreed to allow the individuals inside the bank to walk out to awaiting officers.  While SWAT team members were enroute to the bank, the hostages were released, and the suspect remained inside of the bank.  The hostages relayed to police personnel that the suspect had a firearm and had discharged his weapon inside the bank multiple times.

As SWAT crisis negotiators and tactical team members arrived on scene, they began to relieve Romeoville Police Officers of their perimeter positions.  At one point, members of the SWAT team, set up in front of the bank building in an armored rescue vehicle in anticipation of the suspect exiting.  As the suspect was beginning to exit, a member of the Will County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team fired one round, striking the suspect.  SWAT team members and medics immediately rendered aid to the suspect.  Emergency personnel transported the suspect to a local area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Following Illinois state statute 50 ILCS 727/1-10, the officer-involved shooting incident is being investigated by the Illinois State Police.   The Will County Sheriff’s Office would typically request the investigation be turned over to the Will/Grundy County Major Crimes Task Force, however, this SWAT team is comprised of several officers from multiple police agencies; therefore, in order to avoid a conflict of interest the Illinois State Police was requested.

The name of the deceased subject cannot be released at this time.  The Will County Coroner’s Office is attempting to make notification to family members.  All media inquiries should be directed to the Illinois State Police at isp.pio.personnel@illinois.gov until further information is known.  The Will County Sheriff’s Office will provide additional information to the media as the investigation by the Illinois State Police progresses.   

Sheriff Mike Kelley is pleased to announce the recent arrest of Jerald D. Shumpert (age 47) of Joliet for the offense of Armed Habitual Criminal and Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon.  Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office took Shumpert into custody during the morning court call at the Will County Courthouse.

Shumpert was scheduled for court on an unrelated case, and Judge Dave Carlson read aloud new charges related to the 02/04/2022 homicide investigation of Leelinn Fox (age 26) of Joliet.  Judge Carlson set the bond amount for the aforementioned charges at $1,000,000.00-10% to apply.  After the charges were read to Shumpert, he was subsequently taken into custody on the warrant.

On 02/04/2022, at approximately 1:28 AM, deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1500 block of Maple Road in Joliet Township for a complaint of shots fired.  Once deputies arrived on scene, they located Leelinn Fox, bleeding from the head from a gunshot wound.  Deputies on scene attempted to render aid to Fox, and East Joliet Fire Protection arrived on scene to transport him to a local area hospital.

Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Leelinn Fox, was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.  It was reported to deputies on scene that there was a party being held at the house, which consisted of only friends and family.  Furthermore, there were approximately twenty to twenty-five people attending the party.  However, when deputies first arrived on scene there were only a handful of individuals remaining at the residence.  Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) were summoned to the scene to begin to conduct the investigation.

For over a month, detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office have been working diligently to try to piece together what occurred during the early morning hours of 02/04/2022 at that residence.  A key piece of evidence led detectives to identify Shumpert as a person of interest in this investigation.  After gathering enough evidence, detectives were able to determine that Shumpert was the only suspect in the homicide investigation of Leelinn Fox.

Sheriff Mike Kelley had this to say about the detectives efforts in apprehending Shumpert in this homicide investigation.  “Even though detectives and Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) met resistance from potential witnesses, they were able to gather good physical evidence and enough information pertaining to the person responsible for this crime.  I am proud of all of the hard work and dedication shown in this case, and I look forward to additional charges being filed at a later date for this cowardly violent act.”

Jerald D. Shumpert is currently being housed at the Will County Adult Detention Facility (WCADF) with his bond set at $1,000,000.00, awaiting his next court appearance.