Man Shot In Bathroom of Joliet Public Library At Ottawa Street

Unsafe Premises - March 2, 2023

Man Injured After Being Shot In The Groin At The Bathroom of Joliet Public Library On Ottawa Street

Man Shot In Bathroom of Joliet Public Library At Ottawa Street

JOLIET, ILLINOIS (March 1, 2023) – A man was injured after being shot in the bathroom of the Joliet Public Library located at 150 North Ottawa Street.

Will County officials are saying that the shooting took place around 4:57 p.m. on Thursday. A man was in the first floor bathroom of the Joliet Public Library when he was shot.

It remains unclear if the victim knew the shooter. Paramedics were called to a nearby home that the victim walked to after the shooting. He was taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment.

No one is in custody at this time. A full investigation into the shooting at the Joliet Public Library remains ongoing.

Liability For Illinois Shootings

Far too many people are killed or seriously injured every year in gun violence across Illinois. According to Everytown, “An average of 805 people in Illinois die by gun homicide every year—a rate of 6.4 homicides per 100,000 people. Across all states, Illinois has the 9th-highest rate of gun homicides in the country. Of all homicides in Illinois, 81% involve a gun, compared to 74% nationally.” There are many steps that businesses can take in order to prevent shootings on their property.

  • Businesses can install security cameras on their premises. These cameras can be used to monitor the premises and detect suspicious behavior.
  • Businesses can opt to use metal detectors for high-risk areas. For example, most government buildings including courthouses have metal detectors.
  • Businesses can hire security personnel as a deterrent. Security guards can also help defuse confrontations before they turn violent.
  • Businesses can partner with law enforcement to implement crime prevention initiatives.

Depending on the facts of any case, a business could be liable if someone is assaulted or shot on their property. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code (740 ILCS 130/1), property owners must maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. This includes taking steps to protect guests from violent crimes. Businesses that are in high-crime areas will typically need greater security measures than other businesses. When a business or government entity fails to take reasonable measures to prevent shootings, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are many steps that should be taken after any shooting.

  • Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • Crime reports for the location of the shooting should be reviewed.

It can be difficult to know where to begin if you’ve been the victim of a shooting. These sorts of attacks are often totally senseless and leave victim’s in a perpetual state of unease. However, it is important for crime victims to know that they do have rights. Any person that is injured in a shooting may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Investigating A Shooting At The Joliet Public Library

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the victim of this shooting at the Joliet Public Library. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. The perpetrator should do the right thing and turn themselves in. It is never too late to do the right thing. 

Have you or someone that you care about been the victim of gun violence at the Joliet Public Library? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that crime victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after an incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.