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Man Wanted In Joliet Shootings Caught On South Side

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 34-year-old man wanted for two shootings in Joliet was arrested this week while sleeping in an apartment on Chicago's South Side.

As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports, it was a tip to a Chicago Police detective from an informant that led to Roosevelt Gills, who was considered armed and dangerous while on the run for the past two weeks.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports

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Gills was wanted for shooting and wounding his ex-girlfriend, Tyisha Smith, 31, at a Joliet housing project, and shooting and wounding Smith's friend, Tommy McDonald, 32, in a separate incident. Gills and Smith have a young son together and Smith, 31, also has a 13-year-old daughter.

Gills allegedly shot McDonald in the arm and chased him from Smith's apartment on Sept. 26. Neighbors reported the gunfire as McDonald's cousin drove him to Silver Cross Hospital for treatment. Smith identified her ex-boyfriend as the shooter.

Three days later, police say Gills showed up as Smith walked her daughter to school in the 800 block of Robin Lane in Joliet.

Witnesses said Gills sped his white Buick LeSabre towards Smith and her daughter, drove up on the lawn of their housing unit and struck the girl's leg with the front of the car. Gills then got out of the car and shot Smith several times before driving away, police said.

Smith, who also has a young son with Gills, was rushed to Silver Cross Hospital in critical condition, but survived the attack.

Soon afterward, police obtained a warrant to arrest Gills for attempted murder and made finding him "the department's top priority," Joliet police Chief Mike Trafton said.

Police found Gills was sleeping around 11 a.m. Wednesday in a bedroom at 1400 W. 99th St., in the Longwood Manor neighborhood. He had an untreated gunshot wound to his back.

Joliet investigators took custody of Gills at a Chicago police station and brought him back for questioning.
He reportedly admitted trying to kill Smith, but said hitting the girl with the car was an accident.
Gills abandoned his Buick in the 8000 block of South Michigan Avenue the morning of the attack and left his clothes and the gun inside, Benton said. Police found the vehicle and were obtaining a search warrant for it Wednesday.
Gills was taken to a local hospital.

He told police the gunshot was from McDonald, whom he said had fired at him first during the confrontation at the apartment. Gills told police he shot McDonald in self-defense.

The Joliet Herald-News contributed to this report, via the Sun-Times Media Wire.

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