Nigerian man ID’d in Joliet Township slaying, shooter remains at large

A 28-year-old Nigerian man was shot and killed in an apparent random shooting on Sunday in the Preston Heights area of Joliet Township.

Will County sheriff’s detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of Toyosi Bakare, 28, alongside Joliet police detectives because a similar shooting occurred about 10 minutes earlier in the 200 block of Davis Street.

The two shootings are not connected but they both appear “random in nature,” according to a statement from the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

The Davis Street shooting left a 42-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the leg.

The vehicle connected to the shootings is a red Toyota Camry with a license plate of Q73 0412. The vehicle is registered out of Joliet, according to the Illinois Secretary of State.

Authorities are “actively searching for the vehicle,” police said.

Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is “urging the public to remain vigilant and safe while law enforcement continues to pursue all leads in locating this vehicle and potential suspects.”

Anyone who sees the vehicle should call 911 immediately and not approach it.

Bakare is originally from Nigerian and he’s been living in the U.S. for about three years, according to the sheriff’s office. The shooting of Bakare was reported at Pheasant Run Apartments, off Pheasant Run Road, which is in Preston Heights, police said.

Bakare suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Anyone with information on the shooting should contact Will County Sheriff Detective Anselmo Vallejo by phone at 815-727-8574, extension 4925.

They can also leave tips at willcosheriff.org.