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Two Dead, One Wounded In Joliet Shooting

Updated 12/3/14 - 11:08 a.m.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police in southwest suburban Joliet were searching for whoever shot and killed two people Tuesday night, and wounded a third.

The three victims were visiting a friend in the 400 block of Strong Avenue around 5:30 p.m., but as soon as they got out of their car, they were ambushed. Police said someone walked up and opened fire.

Two of them – 17-year-old Tariq Purnell and 30-year-old Keon Kelley – were killed. An 18-year-old man who was wounded was airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

Kelley was a father of four.

"Keon, he was a good person, too. He got four kids; four beautiful kids. Don't nobody deserve to die like this; nobody," family friend Sylvania Shade said.

Purnell was a junior at Joliet High School. His family lives down the street from the shooting. His older sister said she heard eight gunshots Tuesday night.

"He was fun, loving, outgoing. He loved his nieces," she said. "He was my little baby. He was a good kid, despite anything that goes on. No mama needs to bury their child," she said.

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Police were hoping to get more information from the victim who survived.

"He was in surgery. We were not able to talk to him as of yet. We do have detectives on the way to talk to him now," Joliet Deputy Police Chief Alan Michael Roechner said. "There was no one outside that we could find right now. There may be. We're hoping some people will call or come forward."

Shade urged the shooter or shooters to come forward.

"Whoever did it, y'all monsters go ahead and come forward now. It ain't no playing no more. This ain't no game," she said. "Stop all this killing. For what? It's stupid."

Police said they have not yet determined a motive. Roechner said police have been to the home before, and know the victims from prior run-ins, but for nothing major.

No one was in custody Wednesday morning.

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