Kankakee Man, 47, Who Lied About Break-In, Not Owning Gun Used In Slaying Now Charged With Murder: Police

KANKAKEE, IL — A Kankakee man lied about the circumstances surrounding a fatal shooting at his apartment just before Christmas, and is now charged with murder, police said Wednesday.

A Kankakee man initially told police that another man and an accomplice had been attempting to break into his residence Dec. 21, when he shot one of them, Kankakee Police said in a release earlier this month. Now, police say the purported attempted break-in never happened.

Police responded that day to a call of shots fired in the 1200 block of East Oak Street. While en route, officials said dispatch told police that a male gunshot victim was lying near an apartment where an alleged attempted break-in had taken place. Police found Travis L. Hayes, 35, from Kankakee, with a single gunshot wound. He was taken to Riverside Medical Center, where he later died.

The resident of the apartment remained on the scene and cooperated with officers, police said at the time. The resident—now identified as Joseph Harris, 47—directed officers to the gun involved in the incident, which was secured as evidence, police said.

Harris initially told police that Hayes had been armed with the shotgun, and the gun had discharged amid a struggle. As the investigation continued, detectives interviewed the alleged "accomplice" and recovered video evidence that contradicted Harris's original account of events, police said. Based on this information, investigators conducted a second interview with Harris on Dec. 30, police said.

According to police, during the later interview, Harris stated that he shot Hayes and that he was in possession of the shotgun at the time of the incident, and that he had not taken the gun from Hayes, as he had previously claimed during the Dec. 21 interview. Police say the alleged break-in attempt also did not happen.

"Based on the video and recent investigation, we do not have any evidence the victim and alleged accomplice were breaking into Harris' residence when the shooting took place," Kankakee Police Chief Christopher Kidwell said Dec. 31.

Following the interview, Harris was taken to the Jerome Combs Detention Center, where he was formally charged with murder.

"I commend our investigators for their tenacity, diligence, and commitment to uncovering the truth," said Kankakee Police Chief Chris Kidwell. "Their work ultimately led to a resolution that ensures accountability and justice."

Charges listed on the jail website include felon possession/use of a firearm and murder.

The case remains under investigation and will be forwarded to the Kankakee County State's Attorney's Office for further review.