Teen Charged in Joliet's First 2024 Homicide

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon in the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Manuel Mejia Perez in a Joliet alley. Police report that the suspect and victim were acquainted and had a personal dispute, which led to Mejia being shot twice during a confrontation. The suspect was taken into custody on Tuesday for an unrelated incident, after which he was questioned and charged in connection with the homicide. Mejia was pronounced dead at the scene, marking Joliet's first homicide of 2024. The victim's family and authorities have expressed deep grief and called for justice. The 15-year-old suspect is currently held at the River Valley Justice Center.