40 Spent Shell Casings, 3 Suspects On Joliet's Theodore Street Side

CREST HILL — Several businesses on both sides of Theodore Street were struck by gunfire during a shootout involving as many as five people, according to police.

At 1:09 p.m., Joliet police were sent to the 600 block of Theodore Street for gunfire, and officers discovered numerous spent shell casings in the parking lot of 600 Theodore Street. Two Joliet businesses, Envisions Salon and Ascendant Iron, were struck by numerous rounds of gunfire.

Two unoccupied cars in the parking lot were also struck by gunfire. No injuries were reported, Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English announced.

"Following a preliminary investigation of this shooting, it is believed that three male suspects at 600 Theodore became involved in an exchange of numerous rounds of gunfire with unknown gunmen located across the street in the 600 block of Theodore Street in Crest Hill," English pointed out.

The three suspects are believed to have fled the area in a light-colored sport utility vehicle. Officers from the Joliet Police Department and the Crest Hill Police Department recovered over 40 spent shell casings at the scene.

Joliet police asked anyone with video footage or information related to this incident are encouraged to contact the Joliet Police Department Investigation Division at 815-724-3020. They can also contact Will County Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734 or online at https://crimestoppersofwillcou... if they wish to remain anonymous.

Earlier, Crest Hill police said a suspect was in custody for questioning, and investigators are looking for a handgun they believe one of the shooters dropped after gunfire erupted.

"If you locate the firearm, please do not touch it and contact Crest Hill PD immediately," Crest Hill police said in a news release.

Crest Hill Police Chief Ed Clark said the gunmen were shooting at each other from both sides of Theodore Street.

Merichka's restaurant in Crest Hill announced on social media that it is closed for the rest of the day as a result of the shooting.

At the scene on Tuesday, bullet holes could be seen in windows facing Theodore Street at the restaurant, along with a bullet hole in the drywall in the restaurant's waiting area. No one was in the waiting area when the shooting happened.

Directly across the street, staff could be seen cleaning up glass after bullets shattered windows at Ascendant Iron, a personal training business.

Merichka's co-manager Joe Zdralevich told Patch four bullets hit the restaurant building and one went through a handicapped parking sign. He said the restaurant has experienced vandalism over the years, including bb guns being shot at the building overnight, but nothing has never happened before during business hours.

He said Merichka's was not the target of the shooting, telling Patch, "We just happened to be in the middle of it."

He stressed the important thing is that no one was injured, and said the restaurant will be open as usual on Wednesday.

"A quick update just to let everyone know what is going on. We will be closed the rest of the night due to a shooting investigation that happened outside our restaurant," Merichka's announced on Facebook Tuesday afternoon. "No one was hit, but obviously people are shaken up. To our customers and employees that were here when it happened, I apologize that this happened. This should never happen but I can't stress how grateful I am no one was hurt."

The restaurant also responded to well-wishes from residents, later adding, "Thank you all for the kindest words. We all know things like this can happen, we just pray it doesn’t. The amount of good people like you all will always outweigh the bad, and good will always win. Thank you to all of you, sincerely."

Another Theodore Street business owner who did not witness the shooting told Patch he arrived at the scene after the gunfire ended and saw 40 to 50 shell casings on the ground across near the strip mall across the street from Merichka's.

"Chaney Monge School has been notified and is on a soft lockdown as a precaution," officials said in a Facebook post.

Police seeking info, video footage

Police said they are looking for video footage of the shootout. Anyone with security camera footage of the incident is asked to contact Det. Joel Steen at 815-741-5115.

Crest Hill police thanked Joliet police, Illinois State Police and Lockport Township Fire Department for their help in responding to the shooting, as well as those who tipped police off to the suspect's location.

"Thank you to the residents who helped call and point out where the suspects were hiding," police said on Facebook.