Boy, 13, Fatally Shot In Joliet, 1st Homicide Of 2025 For City

JOLIET, IL —The Joliet Police Department issued a Facebook bulletin around 5:30 p.m. Monday advising residents that officers and detectives were investigating a shooting near the 300 block of Desplaines Street.

By 6:30 p.m., police spokesman Dwayne English told Joliet Patch that Monday's shooting has resulted in the first city of Joliet homicide for 2025.

English said the homicide victim was a 13-year-old boy. The shooting happened in an alley on the opposite side of the street from the Joliet Housing Authority's Water's Edge apartment community, which is on the southeast side of Joliet.

Joliet police initially thought the victim was 14 only to later learn he was only 13, English explained.

A portion of the area was closed off as part of the investigation, and police asked the public to avoid the area. Further details will be provided once they become available, the agency said.