Merichka's Shooter Captured In Georgia, Extradition Next: Sheriff

CREST HILL — The Fayette County Sheriff's Office in Georgia announced that its SWAT team helped the United States Marshals apprehend a violent fugitive wanted out of Will County — Dylan Debolt, a 20-year-old Plainfield resident who was involved in the Theodore Street shootout from three weeks ago that forced the Merichka's restaurant to close the rest of the day because several bullets lodged inside the walls and broke their windows.

According to Fayette County, on April 2, Debolt was involved in a gun battle in Will County and Debolt fled the area and was found in Georgia. As a result of Friday's capture, Debolt faces serious charges in Will County including aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and reckless discharge of a firearm.

"Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved. Dylan Debolt has been successfully captured and is currently being held in the Fayette County jail while he awaits his extradition to Illinois," Fayette County announced on its Facebook page. "The Fayette County Sheriff's Office commends the dedication and teamwork displayed by all agencies involved in the apprehension of this dangerous fugitive."

On April 2, Patch reported that several businesses on both sides of Theodore Street were struck by the 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 St. 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 said. "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.

Joliet Patch has published other crime stories about Debolt in recent years, and he spent time in the Will County Jail in 2022 and 2021.

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