Baby Thrown To Ground Inside Her Car Seat: Joliet Police

JOLIET — More than two years after Joliet police had Damarco Whitaker was arrested in connection with a car shooting at the Murphy's Express gas station on Route 59 by the Walmart, the 21-year-old Joliet man faces new charges including endangering the life or health of a child.

Whitaker also faces charges of battery and three counts of domestic battery. He is being held in the Will County Jail after being captured over the weekend, Joliet police announced.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said at 8:22 p.m. on April 21, officers responded to the 2200 block of Oneida Street for a domestic disturbance in a vehicle. Officers learned that a woman had been attacked by Whitaker, while in a parked Toyota Avalon.

The victim also had her female infant child with her in the vehicle.

"It is alleged that Whitaker grew angry and approached the rear seats of the vehicle where the victim and the child were and began striking the victim in the face with his fist," English said.

According to English, Whitaker may have held a kitchen knife against the victim’s arm and body, but did not cause injuries. Once the victim exited the vehicle, police said Whitaker then picked up the female infant buckled into a car seat and threw her to the ground before driving away in the vehicle.

The victim and her infant daughter were taken to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department for treatment of minor injuries. It would be learned that the infant was not injured, police said.

A short time later, officers located the Toyota unoccupied in the parking lot of Walmart, 2424 West Jefferson St.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant on April 25 and officers placed Whitaker into custody without incident on April 27 at 7:29 p.m. after officers observed Whitaker in the 1200 block of Morgan Street.

Related Joliet Patch coverage of Damarco Whitaker:

4 Guns Recovered, 5 Teens Captured On Joliet's Southeast Side: Cops

Murphy's Express Shooting: Whitaker Captured 4 Months Later

Gunfire At Rt. 59 Murphy's: Arrest Warrant Sought For Joliet Teen