Telephone Tough Guy Texted Threats About Shooting Up House With AK-47: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A Crest Hill man threatened to show up at the home of his old girlfriend’s new boyfriend and said he was going to shoot the place up with an AK-47, according to police.

Luis Ponce, 22, texted his former girlfriend’s new boyfriend once late Wednesday night and again early Thursday morning, police said.

The new boyfriend, a 21-year-old, lives on Connecticut Avenue in Joliet, police said, but happened to be out on the town in Naperville with Ponce’s former lover when the threatening texts were sent.

The new boyfriend reportedly passed the threats along to his brother, who also lives on Connecticut Avenue and was home at the time. The brother then called the cops.

Besides threatening to shoot up the house, Ponce also made noise about showing up at the new boyfriend’s job at a Jiffy Lube and heading over to the car dealership where his romantic rival’s father works, police said.

Joliet and Crest Hill cops went over to Ponce’s house on North Center Street about 2 a.m. Wednesday. Ponce was already outside when they got there, police said, and he denied sending the threatening texts. Ponce even handed over his phone so officers could check it, which turned out to be a bad idea as the cops allegedly found evidence that he was making threats.

Ponce was taken into custody and charged with making a telephone threat. He was later released on his own recognizance.