WCSO Press Releases

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.  

Sheriff Mike Kelley is pleased to announce the recent arrests of three individuals that were involved in the mass shooting incident that occurred on Halloween night of 2021.  Joskar S. Ramos of Joliet (age 18), Thomas Lopez of Joliet (age 21), and Jeremy Lopez of Lockport Township (age 19) were all arrested on charges, stemming from last year’s mass shooting that left Holly Mathews and Jonathan Ceballos dead and several others injured. 

On 11/05/2021, members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office took Joskar Ramos into custody for various weapon related offenses.  While being apprehended, a deputy with the Will County Sheriff’s Office observed Joskar attempt to conceal a firearm on the roof of his residence.  Joskar was taken into custody without incident, and has been incarcerated at the Will County Adult Detention Facility since then on a $1,000,000 bond for the various weapons offenses.   

On December 29, 2021, detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Police requested the assistance of the United States Marshals, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force in locating and arresting Thomas and Jeremy Lopez.  Members of the United States Marshal Service were able to identify addresses for the Lopez brothers, and that information was forwarded to detectives. 

On 01/04/2022, members of the Will County Gang Suppression Unit and Will County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Division who are also members of the United States Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, safely apprehended Thomas Lopez and Jeremy Lopez at their residences.

Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Police wanted Thomas and Jeremy Lopez, who are brothers, on probable cause charges for First Degree Murder.  The Lopez brothers are Vice Lord gang members, and have extensive weapons histories.

In the morning hours of 01/04/2022, members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Division set up surveillance and later approached an address located in the 300 block of Franklin Street in Joliet in an attempt to apprehend Jeremy Lopez.  Jeremy Lopez had been identified as living at this address with Reyna Rodriguez, age 20, who was Jeremy’s girlfriend and mother of his child.  Reyna Rodriguez was also wanted on various drug related charges.  After multiple knocks and calling in to the residence but receiving no response, the door of the residence was breached.  Jeremy Lopez was located inside the residence, alone with his child, and taken into custody without incident.  While Will County Sheriff’s Office personnel were still on scene, Reyna Rodriguez returned to her residence, and was subsequently taken into custody for her outstanding warrants.  Members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office were able to arrange to have the minor child taken into custody by a family member of Jeremy’s.  

In addition, members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office set up surveillance at a residence located in the 500 block of Parkview Lane in unincorporated Lockport Township, and maintained consistent physical surveillance of Thomas Lopez’s apartment for approximately eight (8) hours.  This apartment had no direct ties to Lopez, but it was believed to be rented by his mother.  During the early afternoon hours, Thomas Lopez exited the apartment building and approached a vehicle owned by his father.  Members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office approached Thomas Lopez and he was taken into custody without incident.

Both Thomas and Jeremy Lopez were turned over to detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Police for questioning.  In addition, members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office were also able to secure items of evidentiary value during the course of these arrests, which were turned over to detectives for processing.  As a result of being questioned, detectives were able to obtain additional information from the suspects in order to bring formal charges against Joskar Ramos, Jeremy Lopez, and Thomas Lopez.    

Sheriff Mike Kelley had this to say about the investigation.  “This was a true team effort by everyone at the Will County Sheriff’s Office that helped play a part in this investigation.  This tragic incident could not have been solved without the help of the public, so I want to thank those that came forward with information.  Every member within the Criminal Investigations Division at the Will County Sheriff’s Office have worked tirelessly for months, in conjunction with the State’s Attorney’s Office to help bring these thugs to justice.  Now that these criminals are behind bars, Will County is now safer than it was the day before.” 

Joskar Ramos is being charged with six (6) counts of First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder, five (5) counts of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. 

Thomas Lopez is being charged with six (6) counts of First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder, five (5) counts of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

Jeremy Lopez is being charged with six (6) counts of First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder, five (5) counts of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. 

The bond amount set by Judge Dave Carlson on all three offenders is $10,000,000-10% to apply.  Thomas and Jeremy Lopez were transported from the Will County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Complex to the Will County Adult Detention Facility, and all three defendants are awaiting an initial court appearance.    

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Will County Sheriff’s detectives remain vigilant on the search for partygoers that attended the Halloween Party at 1018 E. Jackson Street, Joliet.  Detectives have currently interviewed over 70 individuals. Most have been cooperative but many refuse to cooperate. With the assistance of witness statements, videos, and tips, detectives are aware that several additional individuals that were there have not come forward.  Detectives are actively looking for these individuals so the Sheriff’s Office is urging every person who was there to come forward. 

Additionally, detectives continue to cultivate leads as they sift through a substantial amount of electronic media in hopes of developing further evidence to capture and arrest the offenders of this heinous shooting.

Victim/hospital update:   One male victim remains in critical condition.  Two victims continue to be treated for non-life threatening injuries and the six remaining victims have been released.

As stated in previous releases, the hosts of this party initially invited some friends over for a costume party.  The invitation spread over social media, which led to several individuals to attend who were unknown to the host or other invitees.  Sheriff’s detectives have confirmed that the hosts were not gang affiliated and the deceased victims were merely innocent partygoers. 

Additional information will be provided when appropriate.

Media contact person:    Kathy Hoffmeyer

                                        Public Information Officer

                                        khoffmeyer@willcosheriff.org

On 10/31/2021, at approximately 12:39 AM, a patrol sergeant with the Will County Sheriff’s Office heard ten (10) to twelve (12) gunshots being fired in the area of Jackson Street and Walnut Street in Joliet Township.  The sergeant responded to the area of gunfire and observed over one-hundred people fleeing, running eastbound on Jackson Street.  The sergeant then proceeded on foot to the area of Jackson Street and Grinton Avenue, where he believed the gunfire to be coming from.  The sergeant was advised by fleeing witnesses that the shooting occurred at 1018 E. Jackson Street in the backyard of the residence.

Additional sheriff’s office personnel and outside police agencies responded to the scene, and responding personnel located multiple individuals shot in the backyard and at nearby houses.  Initial responding personnel began performing life saving measures and wound triage on numerous individuals on scene.  While sheriff’s office personnel were on scene, additional shots were heard in the immediate area.

Over a dozen individuals were injured by gunfire and transported to local area hospitals.  In addition, the Will County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that two victims died as a result of their injuries on scene.  Four more victims were transported to local area hospitals with life threatening injuries.  The identities of the two victims are being withheld at this time, until family members can be notified.

This investigation is in its early stages, and Will County Sheriff’s Office personnel are still on scene preserving the crime scene and collecting evidence.  Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office began conducting interviews at various locations and the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force was activated in order to assist detectives with conducting interviews.

Responding deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office were able to determine that a Halloween party was being held at a residence located at 1018 E. Jackson Street in Joliet Township.  The shooting occurred outside the residence near a DJ booth that was set up in the backyard.  Initial estimates indicate that there was close to 200 people attending the party.

Witnesses indicated to detectives that there were two shooters at the party.  The shooting occurred from an elevated position on a porch looking down over the crowd.  The first shooter is described as an average sized, Hispanic Male with facial hair, wearing a red hoodie, a black flat billed hat, and dark pants.  The second shooter is described as an average sized, light-skinned black male or Hispanic wearing a yellow hoodie and ski mask.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in trying to identify individuals that attended this Halloween party.  If anyone has information, cellphone pictures or video of the party, or potential suspect information, you are urged to contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office.  This investigation is still on-going and additional information will be provided when appropriate.

 If anyone has any information, or was a witness to this incident, please contact the Detective Danielle Strohm at 815-727-8574 at extension 4930.  You can also contact her by email at dstrohm@willcosheriff.org.  If you wish to remain anonymous, we urge you to submit a tip on the on the Will County Sheriff’s website at www.willcosheriff.org/enforcement/submit-a-crime-tip, or on the Will County Sheriff’s Office App that is available in iOS and Android platforms.  You can also contact Will County Crime Stoppers by telephone at 800-323-6734, or by computer at www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org/submit-a-tip/. 

Early this morning Will County Sheriff's detectives took a person of interest into custody regarding the homicide of Patrick Taylor, age 39, of Lockport.  Sheriff's detectives have also seized the red Ford conversion van that was suspected to be involved in the crime.

Yesterday, at 6:35pm, Sheriff's deputies responded to Oak Avenue, west of Brassel Street, in Lockport Township for a shooting that has just occurred.  Deputies began life saving measures on Taylor who had been shot multiple times.  Lockport Township Fire responded and Taylor was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Multiple witnesses reported that Taylor had been walking down the street when a subject driving a red van had shot and killed him.  The Investigation Unit and Crime Scene Investigators worked throughout the night and located a person of interest and the van in Will County.

The Sheriff's Office would like to thank the public for assisting with information related to this murder.  With help from the community, Sheriff's deputies were able to gather pertinent leads in their investigation.  If anyone has further information please contact Detective Chris DeMato at 815-727-8574  ext: 4912.   Or to remain anonymous you may submit a tip at: www.willcosheriff.org/enforcement/submit-a-crime-tip.  

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On 09/01/2020, at approximately 8:43 PM, Deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Ingalls Park Food and Liquor (1822 E. Washington Street in Joliet), for a shots fired complaint.  Information relayed to deputies indicated that there was a subject inside of the store with a possible gunshot wound to the back.

Responding deputies of the Will County Sheriff’s Office located Zachary Stohr, age 29, on the floor of the business.  Zachary Stohr was transported to a local area hospital by members of the East Joliet Fire Department, where he was later pronounced deceased. 

Responding deputies also located a second victim, Xavier Mendoza, age 20 inside of a vehicle that was parked in a lot next to the business.  The victim appeared to have a gunshot wound to the head, and showed no signs life.  The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene to begin the investigation.  Autopsies for both victims are scheduled for later today at the Will County Coroner’s Office.  This investigation is in the early stages, and more information will be forthcoming when appropriate.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in helping to identify the suspects in this homicide investigation.  If anyone has information in regards to this death investigation case, the Will County Sheriff’s Office is urging the public to contact Detective Brian O’Leary at 815-727-8574 at extension 4957.  You can also leave anonymous tips on the Will County Sheriff’s website at www.willcosheriff.org/enforcement/submit-a-crime-tip.  You can also contact Will County Crime Stoppers by telephone at 800-323-6734, or by computer at www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org/submit-a-tip/.