Suspect Shot Man in Knee with BB Gun while Victims' Kids Watched: Cops

An Orland Hills man is in custody for shooting a man with a BB gun Monday night while the victim and his children sat on a bench outside Louis Joliet Mall, Joliet police said.

Joshua J. Michaels, 22, of 16710 S. 93rd Ave., allegedly drove up to the victim, who was seated with his 4- and 6-year-old children, rolled down his window and fired the gun once, striking the man in the left knee, Cmdr. Al Roechner said. He then laughed and sped away, he said. The victim did not know Michaels, he said.

Police spotted Michaels' pickup truck parked near the Cinemark Louis Joliet movie theater a short time later, Roechner said. Inside the vehicle, they could see a revolver-style BB gun on the driver's seat as well as three other BB guns and BB pellets, he said.

They also spotted two other vehicles nearby with windows that appeared broken by BB gun shots, he said. Michaels was charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault and battery.

He confessed to shooting the man, who was treated at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, and blamed the broken windows on a friend, whom police are still seeking, Roechner said. Michaels is being held at the Will County jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.