Crest Hill shooting suspects charged with attempted first degree murder

Crest Hill — The two suspects arrested for the April 2 shooting in front of Merichka’s Restaurant on Theodore Street in Crest Hill were arraigned in a Will County courtroom on Thursday.

Both Dionne D. Neal and Dylan Debolt were charged with attempted first degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and reckless discharge of a weapon. Neal was also charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, according to Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow’s Office.

Amended petitions to deny were heard and granted. Both men are set to appear again in court on June 4.

Crest Hill police announced the arrest of Neal in connection with the shootout on Wednesday.

Neal, 25, of Joliet was arrested Tuesday in Joliet by members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant obtained by Crest Hill police after further investigation of the incident, according to a news release from Crest Hill police and was taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

Crest Hill police Chief Ed Clark said that investigators identified Neal based on surveillance video from the scene and witness statements.

Police previously arrested 20-year-old Debolt of Plainfield for his alleged involvement in the shooting with assistance from police in Fayette County, Georgia.

No one was injured in the April 2 shooting, which took place in the middle of the afternoon along a busy portion of Theodore Street, but several windows and cars were damaged, and Merichka’s Restaurant was forced to close for the day. At the time, police said they found 40 spent shell casings in the area.

Theodore Street serves as a border between Joliet and Crest Hill, and shots were fired across the street between two groups during the incident. Although Crest Hill police said they have no further suspects they are investigating from their side of the street, Joliet police are continuing their own investigation for those involved on the Joliet side.

In a statement announcing the arrest, the Crest Hill Police Department said: “We would like to thank the community for their help in providing information to help resolve this case. We would also like to thank the Fayette County, Georgia, sheriff’s office; the Joliet police; and the Will County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this case.”