Joliet Homicides On The Rise In 2019 (2024)

February and March saw multiple slayings in the city of Joliet.

Posted Mon, Apr 1, 2019 at 12:00 am CT|Updated Mon, Apr 1, 2019 at 12:41 pm CT

The following afternoon, Joliet Police captured their murder suspect and that man is now in the Will County Jail where his bail remains set at $5 million. Two days prior, Joliet Police detectives arrested a 31-year-old Joliet man in connection with a deadly house fire on Glacier Ridge Drive they say was intentionally set.

Those two high-profile crimes were solved within a three-day period by the Joliet Police Department. Then, last week, two Joliet men in their mid-20s were gunned down at different locations in the Forest Park area of the city's east side. Nobody has been charged with either slaying.

Additionally, several Joliet homicides during February also remain unsolved.

"Anytime a person unjustifiably takes the life of another, it is a tragic and heartbreaking loss for the families of the victim and for the community," Joliet Police Sgt. Chris Botzum informed Joliet Patch. "The Joliet Police Department investigates every homicide vigorously and relentlessly to find the person (or persons) responsible and to give justice to the victims."

Botzum stressed that numerous people "have been put behind bars for these senseless acts, which has given closure to the victim’s families. Unfortunately, not all families can have closure as their family member’s case remains open."

It's important for people to realize, Botzum explained, that "the Joliet Police Department cannot solve these investigations on their own."

"Many homicides have been solved by the public’s willingness to provide information about what they have seen or heard," he said. "In many of the open homicide investigations, someone might have seen or heard something but have been reluctant to come forward with their information."

People who can help the police department solve any of the city's 2019 open homicide cases or other ones from years past are encouraged to contact the Joliet Police Department's investigation unit at 815-724-3020. If people prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Will County Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734 or online at crimestoppersofwillcounty.org.

"Any bit of information from the public can be the key to solving these senseless crimes," Botzum added.

Here's a short synopsis for all of the Joliet homicide cases that Patch has covered so far this year:

Wednesday, March 27 (1000 block of Magnolia Avenue, Forest Park area)

26-year-old Joliet resident Jakias Holman died after suffering multiple gunshot wounds around 7:45 p.m. Will County court records indicate that Holman pleaded guilty in late 2016 to aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon; a charge of manufacturing cannabis, 30 to 500 grams, was dropped under the plea deal. That year, Holman also pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, under another plea with prosecutors.

No arrests have been made.

Monday, March 25 (1100 block of Cutter Avenue, Forest Park area)

26-year-old Joliet resident Dimitri Allen was fatally shot in the chest on The Hill, Allen was found in a backyard of a house on Cutter Avenue, near Ada Street.

Allen had an outstanding Will County Sheriff's Office felony warrant for his arrest at the time of his violent death. The warrant was issued Aug. 30, 2017 for failure to appear in court related to felony charges of manufacturing and dealing cannabis. The warrant listed Allen's address as being in the 1100 block of Cutter, which is the location where someone killed him.

No arrests have been made.

Sunday, March 24 (151 N. Joliet St., downtown Joliet)

76-year-old Hales Corners, Wisconsin, resident Emanuel Burgarino was stabbed 26 times in the fifth floor hallway of Harrah's Casino Hotel where Burgarino was staying. He was killed during a robbery and Joliet Police have told Patch that the homicide victim did not know his attacker. Robert A. Watson has been charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors say that Watson attacked the Wisconsin man to steal his cash.

Joliet Police arrested Robert A. Watson, 25, a transient, the following day. Watson was found lurking around the downtown Joliet Public Library, a popular gathering spot for drifters and homeless people. Watson has a significant criminal history and a Will County judge set his bail at $5 million.

Friday, March 22

87-year-old Joliet resident Teresa Collado died after suffering severe burns in the second-floor of her far west side Joliet house, 1906 Glacier Ridge Drive.

Joliet Police arrested her grandson, William Vera, 32, and charged him with two Class X felonies of aggravated arson and three other felonies.

The fire happened around 1:30 p.m. During his first court appearance, Vera blurted out in court that he had in fact set the fire that killed his grandmother because he had a mental disability. Vera lived at the same address of his grandmother. The judge set Vera's bail at $1 million.

Thursday, Feb. 28

Three homicide victims: 28-year-old Jacquelon Gaskin, 6-year-old Gianna Lee, 1-year-old Giovanni Lee. They were killed by 34-year-old Brandyn Lee, who then shot himself, Joliet Police have said. Lee was the boyfriend of Gaskin and the father of the two small children.

The triple slaying happened around 10:20 p.m. on the second floor of the family's east side home, 503 Whitley Ave. Neighbors heard loud screaming coming from the house at 503 Whitley Ave. and called police shortly before the shooting.

Sunday, Feb. 24

27-year-old Eugene Holmes was fatally shot around 1:45 a.m. after a car pulled up to a house in the 400 block of South Ottawa Street and opened fire during a drive-by. Joliet Police officers found the shooting victim inside where he was pronounced dead. Holmes worked at the Burger Theory restaurant near the new Holiday Inn Suites off Houbolt Road.

No arrests have been made.

Thursday, Feb. 21

13-year-old Javier Cayetano of Joliet died after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Two other juveniles with him also were shot but their wounds were not serious. The triple shooting was called in at 7:43 p.m. in the 300 block of South May Street, which is the Reedswood area on Joliet's west side. The killing of the 13-year-old boy happened in an alley.

No arrests have been made.