Merichka's, Other Businesses Struck By Gunfire On Theodore Street

CREST HILL — Several Theodore Street businesses on both sides of the street were struck by gunfire Tuesday afternoon, prompting Crest Hill and Joliet police to shut down a portion of the road.

Merichka’s restaurant announced on social media that it is closed for the rest of the day as a result of the shooting. At the scene on Tuesday, bullet holes could be seen in windows facing Theodore Street at the restaurant, along with a bullet hole in the drywall in the restaurant’s waiting area. No one was in the waiting area when the shooting happened.

Directly across the street, staff could be seen cleaning up glass after bullets shattered windows at Ascendant Iron, a personal training business.

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Merichka’s owner Joe Zdralevich told Patch four bullets hit the restaurant building and one went through a handicapped parking sign. He said the restaurant has experienced vandalism over the years, including bb guns being shot at the building overnight, but nothing has never happened before during business hours.

He said Merichka’s was not the target of the shooting, telling Patch, “We just happened to be in the middle of it.”

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He stressed the important thing is that no one was injured, and said the restaurant will be open as usual on Wednesday.

“A quick update just to let everyone know what is going on. We will be closed the rest of the night due to a shooting investigation that happened outside our restaurant,” Merichka’s announced on Facebook Tuesday afternoon. “No one was hit, but obviously people are shaken up. To our customers and employees that were here when it happened, I apologize that this happened. This should never happen but I can’t stress how grateful I am no one was hurt.”

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The restaurant also responded to well-wishes from residents, later adding, “Thank you all for the kindest words. We all know things like this can happen, we just pray it doesn’t. The amount of good people like you all will always outweigh the bad, and good will always win. Thank you to all of you, sincerely.”

Another Theodore Street business owner who did not witness the shooting told Patch he arrived at the scene after the gunfire ended and saw 40 to 50 shell casings on the ground across near the strip mall across the street from Merichka’s.

Crest Hill police said they and Joliet police responded to a shooting just after 1 p.m. in the 600 block of Theodore, adding that initial reports indicate that suspects may have fled the area on foot.

“Chaney Monge School has been notified and is on a soft lockdown as a precaution,” officials said in a Facebook post.


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