Weightlifters Robbed at Gunpoint in Joliet Garage

A Lockport man armed with a Kal-Tec pistol stuck up a trio of weightlifters in a Joliet garage but his scheme unraveled when one of the musclemen chased him down and fought him until the law arrived, police said.

The weightlifters — ages 29, 19 and 16 — were about to start pumping iron in a North Hickory Street garage Wednesday afternoon when 21-year-old John Humphrey appeared and brandished a pistol, police said.

Humphrey allegedly relieved the men of their money and — as he ran off — turned back and let a shot fly.

The bullet missed all of the weightlifters and one of them, the 19-year-old, gave chase, police said. The teen reportedly overtook Humphrey near the corner of Broadway and Western Avenue and the two men set to fighting.

Three police officers reportedly happened by and the 19-year-old told them he had been robbed by Humphrey. The officers found the Kal-Tec on the ground nearby, police said.

Humphrey was taken to the Will County jail.