Park Forest Man Shot 63-Year-Old, Charged With Battery: Police

PARK FOREST, IL — A 30-year-old Park Forest man is facing charges of aggravated battery with a firearm after police said he shot and wounded a 63-year-old man at an apartment earlier this month.

According to officials, police were called to the 300 block of Juniper Street on Mar. 3 at around 1 p.m. after a resident reported hearing shots fired. When officers arrived, they found an older man with a gunshot wound to his thigh.

Police said the man gave officers a description of the shooter shortly before he was taken to a local hospital. Afterwards, police saw a man matching the description walking near the apartment building and arrested him.

According to a written statement from Park Forest police, the man had a loaded handgun in his pocket which matched the gunshot wound from the older man's leg. Police said the two men knew one another.

"We'd like to thank our officers for their quick and brave response," Park Forest police wrote in a statement. "From entering the building to provide aid when the shooter's whereabouts were unknown, to safely taking the armed offender into custody when he was located, we're proud of their fast and professional actions."

The man's name has not been released pending additional charges, a spokesperson from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office told Patch.