2 arrested after gunfire and police pursuit in Joliet

Two men were arrested after a Saturday car chase in which two guns were found along the trail of the pursuit.

Joliet police said they heard gunshots at about 10:33 p.m. in the area of Second Avenue and Richards Street and then saw a vehicle moving at a high rate of speed.

They attempted to stop the vehicle near Second and Mississippi, avenues, but the vehicle kept going and a chase ensued, according to a police news release.

The vehicle stopped in a driveway in the 300 block of Union Street, and the occupants were detained.

Police said spent shell casings were in plain view inside of the vehicle, which appeared to have been hit by gunfire. Officers searched the path of the pursuit and recovered two firearms on the sidewalk near the 300 block of Mississippi Avenue, police said.

The two firearms “appeared to have been recently left where they were found,” police said.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Adrian Bailey, 19, of Joliet. He was taken into custody.

Officers determined that John Hernandez, 19, of Joliet, had fired a gun at Bailey’s vehicle, according to the police news release.

Officers met with Hernandez in the 200 block of Duncan Street, searched him and found multiple rounds of live ammunition, police said.

Hernandez was arrested on probable cause of unlawful possession of ammunition and having no firearm owner’s identification card, according to police. Hernandez also had a Will County warrant for his arrest for failing to make a court appearance in a traffic case.

“This incident is still under investigation,” police said.

Bailey and Hernandez were taken to the Will County jail and released on Sunday.

Bailey was issued traffic citations for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in a motor vehicle, having no valid driver’s license, disobeying a stop sign, driving more than 35 mph over the speed limit and improper passing of a vehicle, court records show.

The traffic citation indicated Bailey was driving a Nissan Murano.