3 Shot At Joliet House Party, Arrest Made Sunday

JOLIET — Three people were shot late Saturday by 34-year-old Joliet man Michael Gallegos, who is now in the Will County Jail, according to Joliet police. Two victims were treated and released from a hospital, but a 38-year-old man is struggling to survive after being shot in the abdomen, the Joliet police announced on Sunday.

Officials said Gallegos now faces charges of aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and unlawful possession of ammunition by felon.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 11:32 p.m. March 22, officers responded to a house in the 5300 block of Sunmeadow Drive for a report of a person shot. As the officers responded, they learned that the shooting victim had already been taken to St Joseph Medical Center by private vehicle. Additional officers responded to the hospital, where they discovered three people had been shot while at the house on Sunmeadow Drive.

According to police, a 38-year-old man sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound to the abdomen, a 55-year-old woman sustained a gunshot wound to an ankle, and a 32-year-old woman had sustained a graze gunshot wound to the thigh.

Both female victims were treated at the hospital and released.

As this investigation progressed, police say officers determined that the shooting occurred during a gathering of people at the Sunmeadow Drive home.

Police identified Michael Gallegos as the suspect in the shooting.

Police say that during an argument in the residence, Gallegos produced a handgun and fired multiple rounds, striking the male victim in the abdomen before fleeing the home. Police believe the two female victims were struck by stray gunfire, according to English. Gallegos

Gallegos was placed into custody at 9:08 a.m. on Sunday, following a traffic stop in the 500 block of Collins Street.