A family fight erupted into violence Saturday night, leaving a man and his father dead of gunshot wounds and a second brother seriously wounded.
Joliet police were called to an apartment at 122 E. Cass St. shortly before 10 p.m. and found Roberto Gutierrez, 46, of Joliet, and his 22- and 23-year-old sons with injuries from gunfire, Cmdr. Brian Benton said Sunday.
Roberto Gutierrez died at 10:20 p.m. at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet and Fernando Gutierrez, 23, of Addison, at 10:12 p.m. at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
The 22-year-old son, whose identity wasn't released, underwent surgery at Provena for two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and one to the leg, Benton said. He is expected to survive.
What police have been able to piece together is the three men had been fighting throughout the evening, and Fernando Gutierrez eventually pulled out a handgun and shot his father and brother, Benton said. Despite his injuries, the younger brother was able to retrieve a gun from another room and returned fire on his brother, he said.
It's not clear what the fight was about, but the family has been known to have loud arguments, Benton said.
Fernando Gutierrez, who has a criminal history under his own name and possibly an alias, was described as "acting erratically" before the shooting, Benton said. Toxicology tests are being conducted.
One weapon was found outside the residence, and the other recovered after police obtained a search warrant to go into the home, Benton said.
No charges have been filed against the surviving brother because it appears he shot his brother in self-defense, but the final decision will be made by the Will County State's Attorney's Office.
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Feliz Navidad
F...Why is this one kid still alive? because he was able to return fire....If you ban guns you are under the restrictions of the people who own guns...The govern,ent and other people who MAKE guns...A piece of metal and a piece of wood is all you need to make a gun....Sons of guns...a PVC pipe,2 wires,a 9v battery and a piece of wood.....Know what they made?...A rocket Launcher..yes a rocket Launcher