Nine Months After Shots Fire In Joliet, Police Arrest A Suspect

Benjamin Onate (19, Joliet) was arrested, processed, and  transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility for Possession of a Firearm without  Requisite FOID Card, Defacing Identification Marks of Firearm, and Aggravated Unlawful Use  of a Weapon.  

On December 1, 2023, at 3:06 a.m., Officers responded to the 100 block of Morris Street for a  report of shots fired. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a residence had been struck multiple  times. No injuries were reported in the shooting. During a canvas of the area, Officers  recovered over ten spent shell casings from the street. Later in the same morning, the vehicle  believed to be involved in the shooting was located unoccupied in the 1000 block of Ridgewood  Avenue.  

During an examination of the evidence in this case, which included multiple search warrants of  electronic information, Onate was identified as a suspect in the possession of a handgun which  appeared to have a defaced serial number. It was determined that Onate did not possess a FOID  card.  

On September 3, 2024, Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Onate for the above listed  charges. On September 11, 2024, Onate arrived at the Joliet Police Department to speak with  Detectives at which time he was placed into custody without incident. This case remains under  investigation.