Joliet man caught with gun after officers investigate drive-by shooting: cops

A man was arrested after he was found with a gun in a vehicle that officers suspected was involved in a drive-by shooting on Joliet’s East Side, police said.

Shortly before noon Sunday, officers responded to the area of Jackson Street and Garnsey Avenue after receiving a report of shots fired, Joliet police said.

The officers met with a male victim who claimed he had been shot at.

“Further investigation determined that the victim was driving northbound in the 400 block of Garnsey Avenue at which time an occupant from a passing vehicle fired one round at him. Nothing was struck,” police said.

The officers shared a description of the suspect and vehicle with other officers in the area.

The officers found a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle, police said. The vehicle was pulled over near Jackson and Ottawa streets.

Sergio Hernandez, 18, of the 300 block of West Marion Street was identified by officers as an occupant of the vehicle and officers saw what appeared to be the handle of a firearm under his leg, police said.

“Hernandez was ordered out of the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident and the firearm was recovered,” police said.

Hernandez was arrested on probable cause of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and not having a firearm owner’s identification card. He was taken to the Will County jail after his arrest.