ILLINOIS — A Will County judge has approved the pretrial release of Catrell Jordan, a 30-year-old man from Riverdale charged in connection with a June 12 shooting at a Joliet apartment complex, despite objections from prosecutors citing his criminal record and gun use in a high-density residential area.
Jordan, who is facing a felony charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, was released on June 18 with court-ordered conditions, including electronic monitoring and strict confinement to his home.
Shooting Followed Argument Over Dice Game, Prosecutors Say
Authorities allege that Jordan and 32-year-old Jonathan Britton of Chicago were involved in a confrontation at Riverwalk Homes in Joliet, which escalated into a shootout.
Prosecutors revealed that the conflict was sparked by an argument over a dice game, and that both men allegedly fired weapons during the incident. As reported by Shaw Local News, three people were injured, including both Jordan and Britton.
Self-Defense Claim and Conflicting Charges
During an interview captured on police body camera, Jordan admitted he had a firearm and claimed he fired in self-defense. He allegedly told officers that his gun jammed mid-incident, which was supported by officers recovering a live round consistent with a cleared jammed weapon.
Despite the claims, prosecutors argued that Jordan possessed a loaded firearm in a high-density housing area and fired multiple times, posing a significant public safety risk. However, neither Jordan nor Britton have been charged with a specific shooting offense at this time.
Different Outcomes for Two Defendants
While Jordan was released under supervised conditions, Britton remains in jail after Will County Judge John Pavich ruled against his pretrial release. Britton faces charges of possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.
Prosecutors had petitioned for Jordan to be detained, citing his criminal background and the nature of the shooting, but Judge Derek Ewanic ruled that conditions such as GPS monitoring and firearm restrictions would sufficiently mitigate any risk.
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