Crime & Safety
Update: Man Shoots Woman 3 Times Before Killing Himself, Police Say
Cliffton T. Williams was having a fight with the victim, whom he shot three times as she tried to get into her car to leave, Joliet police Cmdr. Brian Benton said.
UPDATE/12:25 p.m.
A domestic dispute turned deadly early Christmas morning when a Joliet man shot a woman three times before turning the gun on himself, Joliet police Cmdr. Brian Benton said.
Police responded to several 911 calls that started coming in shortly after 2 a.m. about a fight and gun shots on Spruce Slip Avenue, near Chicago Street and 4th Avenue, Benton said.
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They arrived to find Cliffton T. Williams, 23, lying dead in the street and a woman who was either his present or ex-girlfriend shot three times, Benton said.
According to reports, the pair were having a verbal argument inside Williams' home at 8 Spruce Slip Ave. with the woman, identified as a 22-year-old Joliet resident. When she decided to leave, Williams followed after her with a gun, Benton said.
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The weapon was shot six times, with three bullets striking the victim and one fired into Williams' head, apparently by his own hand, Benton said. He was pronounced dead by the Will County Coroner's Office at 3:40 a.m.
None of the bullets struck the woman in vital organs and she is expected to recover from her injuries, he said. She is reported to be in good condition.
Benton said he does not know what the argument was about, nor he know if there was a prior history of domestic disputes between the couple.
According to Will County jail reports, Williams has been arrested several times in the last few years. Charges include domestic battery and violation of an order of protection, criminal damage to property, and direct criminal contempt, all in 2011; three counts of aggravated battery in 2009, and sale/use of a blackjack near a school/park in 2008.
INITIAL REPORT/10:15 a.m.
A 23-year-old man died of a gunshot wound in the early hours of Christmas Day, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.
Cliffton T. Williams was pronounced dead at 3:40 a.m. Tuesday on Spruce Slip Avenue, a release from the office said.
The manner of his death is under investigation by the Joliet Police Department. An autopsy is being conducted today.
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