Task force still investigating Joliet police officer’s shooting of Naperville man

The fatal shooting of a 19-year-old Naperville resident by a Joliet police officer from December remains under investigation by the Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force.

On Dec. 22, Joliet police officers responded to the area of Second and Arizona avenues in the city’s East Side in response to a report of a man threatening to shoot people, according to the Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force.

Officers encountered Joseph Casten, who was reportedly “in the street brandishing what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun,” task force officials said.

“Mr. Casten aimed this apparent handgun at officers and was subsequently shot multiple times,” task force officials said.

Officers quickly attempted to render live-saving measures on Casten and later discovered the apparent handgun was actually a BB gun, task force officials said.

Task force spokesman Ken Kroll said the case remains open. He said the task force has been appointed to be a special investigator by a grand jury and they are awaiting information from subpoenas.

“In addition, Casten’s cellphone has be sent to Quantico to see if they can retrieve any information off the phone. The phone was damaged as a result of the shooting,” Kroll said.

Kroll said through the grand jury, the task force can pursue subpoenas. He said he was certain the task force will present all information to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for a determination.

The Will County Coroner’s Office ruled Casten’s death a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds. The coroner reports indicated that none of the gunshot wounds showed evidence of close-range firing.

Casten’s obituary said he “battled immense mental health challenges over the last three years.”

“Sadly, Joe lost his battle on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. He was so much more than his struggles,” the obituary said.

Casten was described in the obituary as a proud dog dad, a gifted and creative writer of songs and verse, a loyal, supportive friend, a deep thinker and sensitive soul.

“We will always remember him for much more than his challenges, and we will carry on his battle for others,” the obituary said.

Casten was identified by the task force as the same person who called 911 before Joliet police responded to the scene on Dec. 22.

911 calls obtained by The Herald-News through a Freedom of Information Act request revealed a man had contacted police dispatch and said, “Yeah, if you don’t get people down here right now, I’m going to shoot this (expletive) up.”

“Down where?” the dispatcher asked.

“Use your GPS. I don’t have a GPS. I’m just walking around,” the caller said.

After the dispatcher asked him more questions about his location, she asked if he had a gun.

“Do you have a gun on you?” she asked.

“I do,” he said.

“Okay, what’s going on? Why do you want to shoot something up?” she asked.

“Cause,” he said.

“What’s going on? ‘Cause what happened?” she asked.

When the dispatcher asked the man why he wanted to “shoot somebody up,” he said, “I don’t know, I don’t really care,” and told her to “get people down here like as soon as you can.”

The caller refused to disclose his name and ended the call after the dispatcher confirmed police were on their way. Police dispatch was informed the caller’s number registered back to Casten.

The Herald-News obtained video from the squad vehicles that responded to the incident in a FOIA request. The video is not being shown due to its graphic nature.

One video showed a squad vehicle parked in front of a residence in the 800 block of Second Avenue. A police officer is seen exiting that vehicle.

Several seconds later a police officer is seen quickly walking backward on Second Avenue and firing numerous shots.

Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English confirmed the officer is Tyler Bayles. Police reports said Bayles made initial contact with Casten in front of a Second Avenue residence, “ultimately leading to the officer firing his service weapon, and striking the subject.”

Casten is seen in the video falling on the ground in the middle of Second Avenue and lying on his back after the shooting.

Several officers quickly surround Casten. The officers back away after something appears to cause flashes on Casten’s body and smoke spills into the air. One officer dives away from the smoke.

English said the smoke is coming from Casten’s cellphone which appeared to have been struck by a bullet.

The officers regroup around Casten and check his body before one officer is seen performing CPR.

Police reports said one officer saw a black firearm on the ground near Casten’s body and it was “easily within five feet of the subject down on the ground.”

After several officers participated in lifesaving efforts, Casten was taken by ambulance to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, where he succumbed to his injuries, police reports said. Bayles was taken to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet for evaluation.

Police dispatch was informed by a friend of Casten that he told her he was going outside for fresh air and never came back. The friend told dispatch they were at another friend’s house in the 700 block of 2nd Avenue.

“When was the last time you saw him? How long ago?” the dispatcher asked.

“I saw him like 45 minutes ago. He just got up and left, he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to get fresh air,’ and then he went downstairs,” the woman said.