Arrest Made in Restaurant Slaying; Convicted Felon in Custody

By Karen Sorensen (Editor)

Christopher Leon Thompson, 31, 712 S. Joliet St., Joliet, was arrested at a residence in the 2300 Block of Carnation Street in Crest Hill Saturday, hours after it's alleged he argued with Gerardo Franchini, 29, and shot him several times point blank at Louis' Family Restaurant, 1001 W. Jefferson St., Joliet.

An alleged drug dealer and convicted felon has been arrested and charged with murdering a man while he was eating breakfast with his family, Cmdr. Brian Benton said.

Benton declined to say what provoked the argument, which occurred while Franchini was eating with his wife and two daughters.

"All we know for sure is the two had had previous altercations and it stemmed from that," he said.

The shooting occurred at about 9:30 p.m., and Franchini died at about 12:15 p.m. Saturday at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

Police were able to identify Thompson from the accounts of several witnesses, who were able to identify his photo as that of the shooter, Benton said.

Police obtained a search warrant for Thompson's house, where they recovered drugs. Benton would not disclose if they found the murder weapon at that house or at the Carnation Street residence.

In addition to first-degree murder, Thompson was also charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and controlled substance trafficking.

According to Will County Circuit Clerk's Office records, Thompson has been arrested many times on charges that include aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, manufacture/delivery of cannabis, unlawful vehicular invasion and possession of cannabis.