Joliet teen charged with June 6 fatal shooting on city’s east side

A teen has been charged with the first-degree murder of a 20-year-old man who was shot and killed on Benton Street in Joliet earlier this summer.

The charges against Emilio Aldape, 18, of Joliet were filed June 12, but they were not unsealed until Wednesday, when Aldape was taken into custody.

A criminal complaint alleged that Aldape and another suspect shot and killed Latrel Vaden-Smith, 20, on June 6. Vaden-Smith’s body was found in the 600 block of East Benton Street with a gunshot wound to the head.

The other suspect’s name was redacted in the criminal complaint.

Aldape has been locked up in the Will County jail on a $5 million bond.

Joliet police Detective Donald McKinney requested the warrant for Aldape’s arrest June 9. The $5 million bond was set by Judge Art Smigielski.

Police officials were not able to provide information because the circumstances of Aldape’s arrest and an associated case are under court seal.

Smith-Vaden attended Troy Middle School in Plainfield and Joliet West High School, where he graduated in 2020, according to his obituary.

Smith-Vaden was scheduled to begin his employment at Walmart in Joliet just a day after he died.