Joliet Man Charged In Ambush Murder In Lockport Township: Sheriff

LOCKPORT, IL — On Friday afternoon, Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley announced that Joliet 24-year-old Jaron Nabors Jr. was taken into the Will County Jail on first-degree murder and aggravated battery charges for the Feb. 8 shooting death of 52-year-old James H. Berry of Lockport Township. A 55-year-old man remains hospitalized in Chicago after being paralyzed during the same crime.

According to Will County Sheriff's officials:

One month ago, Feb. 8, sheriff's deputies were sent to the 200 block of Riverview Avenue in unincorporated Lockport Township where the 55-year-old man was laying near the front-door and James Berry was laying near the 55-year-old.

Both victims were shot multiple times at close range near the front of the house.

The 55-year-old victim was ultimately paralyzed from the waist down from his injuries, and he is recovering at a Chicago area medical facility. James Berry died at the hospital.

"It was reported to detectives that James Berry was returning from a local grocery store with food for a birthday celebration," Will County revealed in Friday's press release. "As he approached the front of the residence, the 55-year-old victim answered the door. As the door was being opened, Jaron D. Nabors approached the front of the residence and began firing his weapon in the direction of the two men.

"Through conducting interviews, detectives learned that Jaron Nabors was a person of interest in having possible information related to this investigation. Jaron Nabors was wanted on a no bond arrest warrant, unrelated to this investigation."

On Wednesday, the Will County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrants Unit captured Nabors at a house in the 100 block of Stevens Avenue in Joliet Township.

As members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office approached Nabors, he tried to run off, but he was taken into custody without incident.

Deputies located a Glock 34, 9mm handgun in a hoodie he was wearing. That gun was later test-fired at the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Laboratory, and it was the same weapon used in the murder of James Berry, Will County revealed.

Surveillance videos obtained by detectives as well as additional electronic evidence items were key pieces of evidence in securing this arrest, Will County pointed out.

Nabors has been a frequent inmate in the Will County Jail, having four different mugshots taken since 2018, jail logs show.

Original Patch story:

Murder In Lockport Township, 2nd Shooting Victim Alive: Sheriff