Protest staged at scene of September double homicide in Joliet Township

Family and friends seek answers, Will County Sheriff’s police say investigation is active

Family and friends of one of the victims of a September double homicide held a demonstration Saturday at the scene of the crime.

About 20 people attended the demonstration in memory of Xavier Mendoza, 20, of Joliet who was shot dead in a car parked near Ingalls Park Food and Liquor where Zachary Stohr, 29, of New Lenox also was shot to death.

No one has been arrested for the shootings.

“I’m hoping that people will start speaking up, and Will County will do their job and solve this case,” said Gina Desmond, Mendoza’s mother.

Will County Sheriff’s police are investigating the shootings, which occurred on a section of Washington Street outside the Joliet city limits.

Desmond and others at the demonstration said they are frustrated by the apparent lack of progress since the crime occurred the night of Sept. 1.

“It’s eight months – no arrests, no suspects,” said Mario Barrios, who described Mendoza as a “best friend” who “was like a brother to me.”

“We’re protesting for justice for Xavier. We’re here for Zach Stohr,” Barrios said.

It’s not clear why either man was shot.

Mendoza was in a car parked outside a restaurant next door to Ingalls Park Food and Liquor, where, his mother said, he was waiting to pick up a relative who worked at the restaurant. Stohr may have been leaving Ingalls Park Food and Liquor when he was shot.

Protesters pointed to surveillance cameras outside the store and questioned why video from the scene has not led to arrests.

Desmond said police no longer talk with her.

“They need to start communicating with the family and let us know what’s going on,” Desmond said.

Will County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Dan Jungles said the investigation into the shootings “is still ongoing and active. Homicide investigation is a top priority for the sheriff’s office.”

But Jungles described communication with Desmond as an “ongoing battle.”

“We’re in a position where if we were to share any kind of information with her it could put the investigation into jeopardy,” he said. “We have to maintain the integrity of our investigation. We can’t share details.”

Jungles said sharing information in the case could lead to other problems, pointing to an incident that police believe was an attempted retaliation related to the shooting.

In February, Desmond was arrested on a charge of obstructing justice at the scene of a barricade when a Will County Sheriff’s SWAT team was called out at the end of a series of incidents that included allegations of shots fired.

Police said Desmond was arrested for crossing police tape at the barricade scene. Desmond said she was concerned about the safety of people in the house.

Desmond said she has not been the same since her son was shot.

She recalled the scene of the shooting where the night was lit with the flashing lights of squad cars and ambulances as she arrived not knowing whether it was her son who had been shot.

“I started yelling, ‘Is it a red-headed boy?’ ” she said. “They told me, ‘It’s too gruesome to go up there.’ ”


Her son had been shot in the head. While his body was mostly covered, Desmond said she caught “glimpses of his hair” as police asked her for information that could identify the victim as Xavier Mendoza.

“I literally had a piece of me die that night,” she said.