JOLIET, IL — The 29-year-old Joliet man who was shot by two Joliet police officers responding to an Elmwood Avenue shooting on the city’s east side is Victor Harris, sources told Joliet Patch on Monday night.
One source indicated the Joliet police officers were totally justified to open fire upon Harris because he had just committed a shooting in the neighborhood and when the officers saw him in the street and ordered him to drop his gun, he pointed his handgun at them.
“He pointed the gun at the officers,” the source told Joliet Patch.
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When asked if the Joliet police officers acted properly by shooting Harris, the source remarked, “I would definitely say, yes, absolutely.”
Harris was shot at least two times and the officers who shot him also helped provide him aid until the Joliet Fire Department paramedics arrived, the source noted. The two officers who fired several gunshots at Harris did so from roughly 30 feet away.
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They were driving an unmarked police car, and they opened their doors and used them as cover as they fired at Harris. Harris did not fire back at them, according to one source.
The two officers in the unmarked Joliet police car were responding to Elmwood Avenue to investigate a shooting incident that just happened moments earlier.
“He just did it,” the source said, referring to Harris. “He had just fired that gun.”
Earlier, Joliet Police Department spokesman Dwayne English confirmed his agency’s officers shot a man who was walking along Bennett Avenue near Elmwood Avenue just before 5 p.m.
English said officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Elmwood Avenue for a report of shots fired. Officers encountered a man walking while holding a handgun. Officers discharged their weapons, striking the man.
Just after 6 p.m., a one-block area was draped in crime scene tape, and there was a large police presence on Bennett on Joliet’s east side Monday evening.
A handgun was recovered at the scene, police said. The man was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
The Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force is currently conducting the investigation.
“This is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. Any further updates regarding this incident will come from the Will Grundy Major Crimes Task Force,” English said.
On Monday night, Will County Major Crimes Task Force representative Dan Jungles issued a statement indicating “the armed individual refused to comply with officers’ orders. Two Joliet police officers fired at the armed suspect, striking him numerous times.”
Jungles said the 29-year-old man shot by the Joliet police is a resident of Joliet.
“A firearm was recovered at the scene, and detectives with the WGMCTF conducted numerous interviews and conducted a neighborhood canvass of the area. As of this writing, the suspect is in surgery in critical condition and no charges have been filed. The identity of the suspect is being withheld at this time pending notification to family,” Jungles announced.
“The WGMCTF is investigating this use of force incident, and additional information will be released when appropriate.”
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