Teen arrested in Indiana for deadly shooting in Joliet

JOLIET, Ill. – A teen was arrested in Gary, Indiana for a deadly shooting in Unincorporated Joliet.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office said at around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, deputies were sent to the area of Luana Road and Girard Boulevard in Unincorporated Joliet to investigate reports of a shooting.

Investigators were told the victim was shot while sitting inside of his vehicle near the above intersection and drove himself down the street, where he got out of his vehicle and collapsed.

Deputies found the victim on the ground outside of his vehicle and tended to him until medical personnel arrived and took him to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. He has since been identified as 19-year-old Jayden Valazquez-Garcia of Plainfield.

Detectives reviewed surveillance video, interviewed persons of interest, and came to the conclusion that the shooting happened during an attempted robbery.

Authorities later identified 19-year-old Landen Brown as the suspect and asked the United States Marshal Service for help finding him.

On Friday, Aug. 23, nearly a month after the shooting, authorities went to a home located in the 500 block of East 21st Avenue in Gary, Indiana that they believed Brown may have been staying at. While conducting surveillance on the home, authorities were able to positively identify Brown as he left and re-entered the home, according to investigators.

Deputies said Brown was taken into custody without incident and admitted his involvement in Valazquez-Garica’s murder. He will stay in the custody of the Lake County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office until he can be extradited back to Illinois.

Brown is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

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