2 teens arrested by Joliet police after chase on I-80

Officers’ investigation of a shooting in Joliet led to the arrest of two juveniles who attempted to evade them by driving onto Interstate 80, police said.

On Wednesday afternoon, officers went to the area of Jasper and Water streets after receiving a report of gunshots, Joliet police said.

The officers arrived at the scene and determined two people had been shot at by someone in a nearby vehicle, police said. The two people were not injured but a nearby unoccupied vehicle was struck by gunfire.

The officers put out a description of the suspects’ vehicle to other officers and one officer found a matching vehicle near Fourth Avenue and Sherman Street, police said.

The officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the driver refused to pull over, which led to a pursuit, police said. The chase led officers to I-80.

The suspects’ vehicle had a mechanical failure and left the roadway, entering a ravine to the south of I-80, where the vehicle came to a stop, police said.

The 15-year-old driver attempted to flee from officers on foot but was arrested, police said.

The 14-year-old passenger ran from the vehicle while holding a handgun, police said. The passenger threw the handgun over a nearby fence and was arrested after a short struggle, police said.

“Officers recovered the loaded handgun that the juvenile had tossed over the fence. It was determined that this firearm had previously been reported stolen,” police said.

Police said the suspects’ vehicle and the vehicle’s rear registration were previously reported stolen as well.