Nathan J. Ballard, a 20-year-old male from Joliet, IL, tragically lost his life on October 28, 2018. The incident occurred during the early hours of the morning, around 1 a.m., when Nathan was shot in the chest near the Belmont Athletic Club property in Joliet Township. The shooting was the result of a planned robbery orchestrated by Anthony Francimore and Elijah Watson. Francimore had arranged a drug deal with Nathan, intending to sell him ecstasy.
However, the true motive was to rob Nathan of $75. After Nathan paid for the drugs, Francimore entered a waiting vehicle with Watson and three other individuals. As Nathan and his brother attempted to stop Francimore from leaving with the money, Watson pointed a gun at them and fired multiple shots, one of which fatally struck Nathan in the chest.
The investigation into Nathan's death was swift, with the Will County Sheriff's Department responding to the scene and finding Nathan face down on the roadway. Both Francimore and Watson were arrested the following day and charged with first-degree murder. The case proceeded to trial, where both defendants were found guilty. Francimore was convicted under the prosecution's felony murder theory, while Watson, identified as the shooter, was found guilty of first-degree murder. Watson's sentencing is scheduled for May 23, with a potential sentence ranging from 45 years to life in prison.
The trial revealed harrowing details about the events leading up to Nathan's death. Testimony from Nathan's brother, who was present during the shooting, described how they had pooled together $75 to purchase ecstasy from Francimore. The brothers met Francimore a few houses down from their home, closer to Highland Avenue, where the transaction took place. As the car fled the scene, Watson fired the fatal shots, ending Nathan's life. The case has left a lasting impact on Nathan's family and the Joliet community, who continue to mourn the loss of a young life taken too soon.
