Kankakee, Illinois – A 36-year-old man was arrested after gunfire struck a vehicle and nearby residence in Kankakee, prompting felony charges, police said.
According to the Kankakee Police Department, officers responded around 4:14 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, to the 400 block of North Cottage Avenue after receiving reports that a man had been shot at during a dispute.
Police said the victim reported he had been involved in a verbal argument with Lionel D. Watson Jr. while performing contract work at a residence. During the dispute, Watson allegedly retrieved a firearm and began firing shots as the victim attempted to leave in his vehicle.
Investigators allege the suspect followed the victim in a white SUV while continuing to fire multiple rounds. Evidence collected at the scene included a spent 9mm shell casing in the roadway, a bullet hole in a nearby residence in the 1400 block of East Willow Street, and damage to the victim’s vehicle consistent with gunfire, according to police.
Video surveillance from the area reportedly supported the victim’s account and showed a white SUV following the vehicle at the time of the incident.
On Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, Watson was taken into custody by Kankakee police. He has been charged with Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
No injuries were reported.
The department said it continues to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes. All suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The case may draw attention among local residents and commuters in the North Cottage Avenue corridor due to the residential gunfire impact.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Kankakee Police Department.
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