Coroner Identifies Joliet Woman Found Slain In Vehicle

JOLIET, IL — A 24-year-old woman was found shot to death inside a vehicle early Sunday on Clement Street, and a 2-year-old girl was found unharmed in the backseat of the car, police said.

The Will County Coroner's office identified her as Maya A. Smith of Joliet.

At around 12:21 a.m., officers responding to a parking complaint reporting a vehicle parked in an alley west of the 1200 block of Clement found the woman dead in the front seat with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a Joliet police news release.

The toddler was found in the backseat and taken to Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department for a precautionary medical evaluation.

Detectives canvassed the area and a representative of the Will County Coroner's Office responded to the scene and pronounced the woman dead, according to police. Police said investigators are working to identify a suspect or suspects.

Anyone with information on the slaying is asked to call the Joliet Police Department Investigation Unit at 815-724-3020. To remain anonymous, contact Will County Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734 or submit a tip online.

The incident is the first homicide of the year in Joliet.

It's the third shooting incident on Clement Street this week. On Tuesday, police said an 18-year-old shot himself in the hand and an acquaintance in the stomach during a reckless discharge incident in the 600 block of Clement. On Thursday, police said a 23-year-old man shot up several parked cars in the same block of Clement.