Crest Hill man shot by Joliet police
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com July 30, 2012 10:06AM
Demarcus S. Johnson
Maps
Updated: September 1, 2012 6:08AM
JOLIET — A Crest Hill man witnesses say was high on drugs and threatening suicide aimed a gun at a police officer Sunday morning, and the cop shot him in the abdomen.
Demarcus S. Johnson, 29, remained hospitalized under police guard Monday. He faces charges of armed violence, unlawful use of weapon by a felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member, aggravated domestic battery and two counts of aggravated assault.
At 7:27 a.m., police were called to 508 Second Ave. in response to Johnson threatening two female victims. A subsequent call alerted police that the subject had a gun.
Johnson choked one of the victims, pointed a handgun at them and threatened to kill them, police said.
When police arrived, Johnson tried to leave through the rear door of the house armed with a semi-automatic pistol.
A police officer ordered the suspect to drop the gun, but he refused. Instead, he pointed the pistol at the officer, who fired one shot at Johnson.
After the shooting, a second officer took Johnson’s gun while a third provided first aid.
“He was making comments all through the night that he was going to kill himself or hurt himself. He was pointing the gun at himself while (police) were there,” Joliet Police Chief Mike Trafton said. “As bad as it was, he’s going to be OK. The kid went in for surgery, nothing vital was hit and he’s hoping to be released in a few days.”
The shooting already was ruled justified, Trafton said, and the officer involved was placed on leave until further notice.
Police said Johnson was also in possession of crack cocaine packaged for the intent of delivery.
According to the victims and witnesses, Johnson was under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.
