Man, Shooting Victim Made Up Gun Ambush Story to Avoid Arrest, Police Say

A Joliet man created a fictitious story about his friend being ambushed and shot on his front porch in order to hide an accidental shooting, Joliet police say.

Jordan D. Caples, 19, was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony reckless discharge of a firearm in connection with the Nov. 14 shooting of an 18-year-old man at his 212 N. Hickory St. home.

At the time of the shooting Caples and the victim told police that an unknown man approached the victim while he was standing on Caples' porch, fired one shot into the victim's chest and then fled.

Although they canvassed the neighborhood seeking witnesses who could verify the account, police were skeptical because no shell casing could be located and no blood was found on the porch, Joliet Cmdr. Brian Benton said. Caples cooperated with police, who obtained a warrant to search the house and found evidence -- including the gun -- that indicated the shooting had occurred inside, he said.

Caples eventually admitted the shooting was accidental and the story made up so he wouldn't be arrested, he said. The victim, who had surgery for his injury, also acknowledged the story was fictitious, he said.

Caples is being held in the Will County jail in lieu of $30,000 bond.

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