Police arrest man who lived at Joliet residence where woman was fatally shot

Joliet police have arrested a man identified as a tenant in the same house where a woman died from a gunshot Wednesday.

Ben E. Rockett, 69, of Joliet, was taken to the Will County jail shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of a weapon by a felon and armed habitual criminal, with his bond was set at $1 million, according to the Will County jail log.

Rockett lived in the 200 block of South Illinois St. with Sonja Underwood, 56, landlord Sue Reynolds said. “Her and Benny were my tenants.”

Underwood was found dead from a gunshot wound early Wednesday in the house.

Police have not said what role, if any, Rockett had in Underwood’s death.

Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English on Friday said the investigation is “still very active.”

Reynolds said police had taken Rockett into custody Wednesday. “They told me she died and then said they are questioning him,” she said.

Reynolds said another tenant at the residence told police that she heard people arguing about 6 a.m. the day of the Underwood’s death.

At 6:44 a.m. that day, officers responded to a report that someone had been shot at the house, Joliet police said in a news release. Officers found Underwood dead when they arrived.

Reynolds described Underwood as a “nice woman” and a “sweetheart” who was very calm and soft-spoken.

Underwood had been taking care of Rockett, who suffered a stroke about three months ago, Reynolds said.

“It’s so sad. She was really a nice lady,” Reynolds said.

On Thursday, the coroner’s office said Underwood’s autopsy had been completed, and preliminary findings showed she suffered a gunshot wound.