Alleged Joliet shooter forced to give up licenses, guns, passport

A employee of Essington Tobacco charged with shooting at a car as it was leaving the parking lot has been ordered to surrender his firearm owner’s identification card, any firearms and his Palestinian passport.

Ata A. Shnenah, 23, of the 1100 block of Beldon Way in Joliet has been charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm.

On May 21, a witness claimed that while he was sitting in his car at the parking lot of Essington Tobacco, 1105 Essington Road, he saw Shnenah run out of the store and shoot at an orange-colored car, police said. The car was a Chevrolet Cobalt, according to the criminal complaint.

Joliet Deputy Police Chief Ed Gregory said he didn’t know what led to the alleged shooting.

Shnenah was taken to the Will County jail and his bond was set at $250,000 bond. He was bailed out by his brother Thursday, according to court records.

When reached by the Herald-News Tuesday, Shnenah hung up the phone. His attorney Peter Ciesielski declined to comment on the case.

Shnenah was ordered to surrender his FOID card and concealed carry license to the circuit court clerk within 24 hours of his release, and all firearms to the county sheriff’s office. He also was required to surrender his Palestinian passport.