Update: No Suspects in Hunter Street 'Gang' Murder, Joliet Police Say

Update/5:05 p.m. Jan. 23:

A gunman shooting from the passenger side of a dark red/maroon-colored SUV killed one man and injured another Tuesday night in what Joliet police are calling a "gang-related" attack.

Officers arrived in the 200 block of Hunter Avenue at about 6:20 p.m. to find Christopher Perry Jr., 24, lying unresponsive in the street and a second man with bullet wounds to his leg and shoulder, Cmdr. Al Roechner said.

Both men were transported to Presence St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where Perry was pronounced dead at about 7:20 p.m. His companion, a 23-year-old Joliet resident whose identity was not released by Roechner, was treated and released Tuesday night.

Witnesses said the SUV pulled up as Perry and his companion were leaving Perry's 205 Hunter Ave. home and heading toward a vehicle, Roechner said.

Police believe the people inside the SUV were waiting for the men to exit the house and that the shooting was premeditated, he said.

Despite there being several witnesses to the shooting, no one could provide any information on the suspects inside the vehicle or more details on the SUV itself, he said. The second victim is "not cooperating" with police, he said.

Both victims are known to be associated with a gang and had criminal records, and police are certain the incident was gang-related, Roechner said.

"It's unfortunate, but it's nothing new," he said. "They drive around, and it was an opportunity for them (to strike at members of rival gang)."

Although there have been a rash of drive-by shootings in recent weeks, including two different incidents in which victims were shot, Roechner said he did not believe the situation is escalating or that a full-fledged turf war is being waged.

An autopsy conducted by the Will County Coroner's Office Wednesday indicated the preliminary cause of Perry's death was multiple gunshot wounds. However, the final determination will not be made until toxicology test results come back and police conclude their investigation, Coroner Pat O'Neil said in an audiotaped release.

Original story/published at 12:35 a.m. Jan. 23:

A Joliet man was killed Tuesday night in an apparent homicide, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.

Christopher Perry Jr., 24, was declared dead at about 7:20 p.m. at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, the office reported. The incident occurred in the 200 block of Hunter Avenue.

The Joliet Police Department's watch commander office would not confirm the indicent, and said any information would be released by the police chief's office Wednesday. Information that a second person might have also been injured could not be confirmed.

According to Will County jail records, Perry lived at 205 Hunter Ave. He was charged in 2009 with felony home invasion, but no details on the disposition of that case were available.

An autopsy will also be conducted Wednesday, the coroner's office said.

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