12 Joliet Murder Charges Filed In Halloween Party Killings

JOLIET — The Will County Sheriff's Office issued a press advisory on Thursday revealing that there are now four people facing first-degree murder charges for the mass killings that happened three years ago at an east side Halloween party on East Jackson Street.

A familiar name to Joliet Patch, 23-year-old David A. Grijalva now faces first-degree murder charges stemming from his involvement in the 2021 Halloween mass shooting that occurred in Joliet Township, authorities noted.

On Thursday, the Will County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service apprehended David Grijalva at his place of employment in Channahon without incident. David is charged with 12 counts of first-degree murder, five counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Back in 2021, a Chicago criminal defense lawyer told Joliet taht the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow "does not have enough evidence" to convict his client, David Grijalva, in connection with the Joliet Township Halloween shootings.

"I believe my client is innocent, and we look forward to our day in court," criminal defense lawyer Rajeev Bajaj told Joliet Patch. "My opinion is the State's Attorney's Office does not have enough evidence to secure a conviction of my client. I've been sent to fight all of the charges aggressively."

At that time, five criminal charges were filed against Grijalva, a 20-year-old Joliet resident. He faced one count of attempted murder in connection with the Oct. 31 shooting. Will County police have said that Grijalva is a Vice Lords street gang associate.

According to the sheriff's office recap issued on Thursday:

At approximately 12:39 a.m., dozens of gunshots rang out and were fired into a crowd at a Halloween party located near East Jackson Street and Walnut Street in Joliet Township.

The shooters stood from an elevated position over the crowd, as they began to fire indiscriminately. Nearby Will County Sheriff’s Office personnel heard the shots and immediately responded. Close to 200 party-goers dressed in costumes fled the area, as shots continued to be fired as deputies began arriving at the scene.

Holly Mathews and Jonathan Ceballos, who were not the intended targets, were pronounced dead at the scene. The intended target, Sergio Hernandez, was paralyzed in the shooting and he died of his injuries a year later.

In January of 2022, Joskar Ramos, now 20, of Joliet, Jeremy Lopez, now age 22, of Joliet, and Thomas Lopez, now age 23, of Joliet were all charged with first-degree murders.

Once David Grijalva was taken into custody on Thursday, he was taken to the Will County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Complex for questioning by detectives. Sheriff's officials announced that Grijalva refused to provide detectives with any information regarding his alleged involvement in the murders of Holly Mathews, Jonathan Ceballos, and Sergio Hernandez during that 2021 Halloween party in Joliet Township. David Grijalva was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility, where he will be housed pending his next court appearance, the agency noted.