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A man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder of a 17-year-old he was accused of shooting on Joliet’s far west side. Nathaniel Jakes Jr., 19, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude police officers over the July 2 shooting.
According to a criminal complaint, Jakes took a substantial step toward committing murder by firing a gun and causing great bodily harm or permanent disability to the 17-year-old male victim. The victim suffered two gunshot wounds and was flown to Stroger Hospital in Chicago.
Jakes was also charged with fleeing from police in a Dodge Durango on Interstate 55 in Joliet and disobeying two or more traffic control devices while fleeing from police on Houbolt Avenue in Joliet.
At a court hearing, Judge Domenica Osterberger set a $1 million bond for Jakes, and he will need to post 10% of that bond amount for his release from the Will County jail.
The shooting incident occurred on July 2 in the 900 block of Shiloh Court, near Joliet Junior College. As officers were arriving at the scene, a male suspect driving a Dodge Durango was observed leaving at a high rate of speed. Officers pursued the fleeing vehicle to I-55 but were unable to stop it.
The 17-year-old gunshot victim was found outside a residence and was initially taken to Ascension Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet before being flown to Stroger Hospital. At the time, he was in critical condition.
During the investigation, Jakes was identified as the suspect who shot the victim during a fight outside the residence. Joliet police officers were later notified by the Illinois State Police that the Dodge Durango was involved in a crash in Chicago, with Jakes inside the vehicle.
The charges against Jakes highlight the seriousness of the incident and the authorities’ commitment to ensuring justice for the victim..
