What Police Heard at 1:51 a.m. Near Anthony's Pub That Led to Fatal Shooting on Colorado Avenue
Aaron Lee Vidales Jr., 31, of Joliet was shot in the head in Dollar Tree parking lot on Colorado Avenue early Sunday; pronounced dead at St. Joseph Me
A quiet early morning in Joliet turned tragic when gunfire erupted in a west side shopping center parking lot, claiming the life of a beloved 31-year-old father and neighbor. Aaron Lee Vidales Jr. has been identified as the man fatally shot outside the Dollar Tree on Colorado Avenue, a loss that has left local family and friends searching for answers. The shooting has shaken a community accustomed to late-night activity near restaurants and retail stores.
Joliet police say an officer near Anthony’s Restaurant and Pub heard multiple gunshots around 1:51 a.m. Sunday and immediately responded to the 2900 block of Colorado Avenue. Officers arrived within moments and found Vidales suffering from a critical gunshot wound to the head in the Dollar Tree lot. Joliet Fire Department paramedics provided emergency care and rushed him to St. Joseph Medical Center.
Despite urgent efforts, Vidales was pronounced deceased around 3 a.m., according to the Will County Coroner’s Office. Investigators secured the scene through the early morning hours, recovering multiple spent shell casings and a recovered handgun from the pavement. Police noted that two unoccupied vehicles parked nearby and the exterior of a neighboring dispensary were also struck by stray bullets.
The location, a busy commercial corridor on Joliet’s west side, is typically filled with shoppers and late-night diners, making the violence especially unsettling for residents. Witnesses described hearing a rapid series of shots followed by people running for cover in panic. The Dollar Tree lot, normally quiet after midnight, became the center of a homicide investigation that stretched into daylight.
Friends remember Vidales as a familiar face in Joliet, a 31-year-old who valued family and was known for his easygoing presence and loyalty. Social media tributes have highlighted photos, memories, and calls for justice, with loved ones describing a man whose life was cut short far too soon. Family members are now making funeral arrangements while grappling with sudden grief.
As of Monday, police had not announced any arrests, and the motive remains unclear. Detectives with the Joliet Police Investigations Division are reviewing surveillance video from the Dollar Tree, surrounding businesses, and traffic cameras along Colorado Avenue. They are also carefully analyzing ballistic evidence and interviewing potential witnesses who were in the area near Anthony’s.
Authorities are urging anyone who was in the parking lot, who may have recorded video on a phone, or who noticed suspicious activity around 1:50 a.m. to come forward quickly. Tips can be shared directly with investigators or submitted anonymously through Will County Crime Stoppers. Police stress that even small details could help piece together what led to the fatal encounter.
The death of Aaron Lee Vidales Jr. marks another painful moment for Joliet families affected by gun violence. Community leaders are calling for calm, cooperation, and support for his loved ones as the investigation continues. Vigils are being discussed, and those who knew him say they will remember his smile and loyalty while seeking answers and accountability in the difficult days ahead.