Joliet Man Killed In The Birches Parking Lot: Police

JOLIET — The Joliet Police Department announced that several gunshots were fired shortly before midnight, resulting in the death of a 25-year-old ex-prison convict. The shooting happened within walking distance of St. Joe's hospital, which is where the victim died.

The Will County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Tenzell L. Terry of Joliet. Four years ago, in April 2020, Joliet Patch reported that Terry and 20-year-old Lockport resident Jhakiren Pickens were both charged with home invasion and criminal trespassing in connection with a third-floor apartment building shooting of four people on Joliet's far east side.

Joliet police recovered about 20 shell casings from the gunfire exchanged inside the apartment.

In Wednesday night's slaying, Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said that at 11:47 p.m. officers responded to the 2300 block of White Birch Lane for multiple reports of shots being fired in the area. White Birch Lane is the location of a large apartment complex off Glenwood Avenue.

Officers discovered an unresponsive 25-year-old man, later identified as Terry, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot of a nearby apartment building. Officers rendered medical aid to Terry until arrival of Joliet Fire Department paramedics.

Terry was taken by Joliet Fire Department paramedics to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives and evidence technicians responded to the scene and a thorough canvas of the area was completed. During the investigation, over 20 spent shell casings were discovered near the area where the victim was found. Three unoccupied vehicles in the parking lot as well as a nearby apartment window appeared to be struck by gunfire related to this incident. No other injuries were reported.

In Joliet's double murder case from four years ago, the late April 2020 shootings occurred in the 1100 block of Parkwood Drive inside a third-floor apartment, killing Joliet resident Treveal Barfield, 18, and Naperville resident Treshon Holland, 24.

According to Will County's prosecutors, Pickens and Terry were part of a group of young men who showed up unannounced at the third-floor Pine Ridge Apartments. The intruders barged inside by kicking the door open, and a shootout occurred inside the apartment unit, according to courtroom testimony. On April 15, 2021, Terry pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and his three counts of home invasion charges were dropped under the plea agreement.

Terry was sentenced to three years at the Illinois Department of Corrections and given credit for 365 days of time already served.

In connection with Wednesday night's slaying at The Birches, Joliet police asked that anyone with video footage or has information related to this shooting, contact their Investigation Division at 815-724-3020. Citizens may also contact Will County Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734 or online if they wish to remain anonymous.