Joliet, Illinois – A 15-year-old was shot in Joliet’s West Park Saturday night, prompting multi-agency response.
According to the Joliet Police Department, officers responded around 10:40 p.m. Saturday (March 14) to the 600 block of Wheeler Avenue after receiving a report of a shooting.
Responding officers learned a vehicle transporting a male gunshot victim had already left the area. The vehicle was later located at Meadow Avenue and Thorne Street in nearby Rockdale, where officers found the injured teen.
Police said the 15-year-old male had sustained a gunshot wound to the head. A Will County Sheriff’s deputy had been flagged down by the vehicle’s driver and was providing medical assistance when Joliet officers arrived.
The teen was transported to Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet in critical condition, with a Rockdale police officer assisting the transport.
Authorities later transferred the victim to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago for further treatment.
During the same incident, police said a 14-year-old male was battered and was also taken to Saint Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department for treatment.
A preliminary investigation determined the shooting occurred inside West Park, where officers and detectives canvassed the area for evidence. An evidence technician processed the scene as the investigation continued.
The motive remains under investigation, police said.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Joliet Police Department Investigation Division at (815) 724-3020. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Will County Crime Stoppers at (800) 323-6734 or online.
The incident has drawn attention in the community, particularly among students and young residents who frequently use neighborhood parks.
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