A 31-year-old Joliet man was shot and killed early Sunday morning in a Dollar Tree parking lot — and the shooter has not been caught.
What Happened
Just before 2 a.m., a Joliet police officer nearby heard multiple gunshots from the Dollar Tree parking lot on the 2900 block of Colorado Avenue.
Officers rushed to the scene and found Aaron Lee Vidales Jr. suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
What Was Found at the Scene
- Multiple spent shell casings recovered
- A handgun found in the parking lot
- Two nearby vehicles struck by gunfire
- A neighboring dispensary also hit
Who Was Aaron Vidales?
Friends describe Vidales as hardworking and full of life.
“AJ was a ball of fun. He was reserved, but also a person that showed love to a lot of his friends,” said childhood friend Gregory Amos.
A coworker at a trucking logistics company said Vidales worked six days a week and was due in for his shift Sunday morning.
“He was real respectable — like a workaholic, for real,” she said.
No Arrests Made
Police are still searching for the shooter. The Will County Coroner’s Office is awaiting final autopsy and toxicology results.
Can You Help?
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Joliet Police Department at 815-724-3020.
To remain anonymous, contact Will County Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734.
— Coverage by thecmeaglet.com
