Breaking: Mokena police investigating shooting outside bowling alley

Police Chief Vaccaro: 'We do have an indication that it was a targeted attack and that it was not random'

By Jon DePaolis

MOKENA, Ill. — Mokena police are investigating a shooting that resulted in a minor injury to a woman Thursday, Oct. 22, outside of a bowling alley and restaurant.

At approximately 11:15 p.m., officers responded to the incident at the Alley Bar and Grill — where Thunder Bowl also is located — at 18700 Old LaGrange Road, according to Mokena Police Chief Steven Vaccaro.

Police learned that several female victims left the business and entered a vehicle. As they exited the parking lot, several black male subjects approached the victims’ vehicle and fired multiple shots from a handgun at the vehicle.

According to police, the victims’ vehicle fled the parking lot after the incident, and the driver was taken to a local hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Meanwhile, the suspects exited the parking lot after the shooting in a Nissan Murano — described as being either blue or gray — with the license plate of CA91585.

“We’re still investigating, but at this point, there does not seem to be any indication that there was any dispute or altercation inside of the business,” Vaccaro said. “We do have an indication that it was a targeted attack and that it was not random.”

The Mokena Police Department is asking that if anyone sees the suspects’ vehicle or license plate to call 911, but to not engage with the suspects as they are considered armed and dangerous.

“We want to assure residents that our priority is public safety, and our investigators are working diligently on identifying these suspects,” Vaccaro said.

The police department urges anyone with information about this incident to call 708-479-3912.