Howard Blankenship, a 47-year-old African American man from Joliet, IL, tragically lost his life on January 27, 2017. Howard was sitting in a parked car at the intersection of Ruby and Center streets when he was shot multiple times. He was found slumped behind the wheel of a Buick, and despite being rushed to Presence St. Joseph Medical Center, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
This incident marked the second time Howard had been shot while sitting in a parked car; the first occurrence was over 16 years prior, in November 2000, when he survived gunshot wounds to his arm and leg.
On the night of his death, Howard was accompanied by a 32-year-old man who sustained a graze wound to his ear. The younger man managed to escape to a nearby barbershop, while the Buick, with Howard still inside, lurched forward, crashed into a guardrail, and rolled back into the intersection. The police investigation revealed that the shots were fired while the car was parked outside the barbershop. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and no arrests have been made in connection with Howard's murder.
In the earlier incident in 2000, a Joliet man named Victor Williams was charged with shooting Howard, but the case was dismissed a year and a half later. This previous attack did not deter Howard from living his life, but the tragic events of January 27, 2017, brought his journey to an untimely end. The community mourned the loss of Howard, who was remembered for his contagious smile and the love he had for his family and friends. A GoFundMe page was set up to assist with his funeral expenses, reflecting the impact he had on those around him.
