In the late afternoon of May 8, 2026, a simmering dispute between neighbors in Joliet, Illinois, tragically escalated, leaving 60-year-old Lyndon B. Hunt dead and his neighbor facing murder charges. The incident unfolded on the 200 block of Nicholson Street, where Hunt and 58-year-old Willis Ellis, who lived in the same apartment building, were engaged in a heated argument on the porch.
The argument was part of an ongoing conflict between the two men, with Hunt's wife later telling prosecutors that Ellis would frequently stomp on his floor to protest noise, even in the middle of the night. This long-standing tension culminated in a fatal confrontation that afternoon.
As the argument intensified, Hunt stepped off the porch and into the front yard. It was at this moment that Ellis allegedly shot Hunt in the abdomen. In a surprising turn of events, it was Ellis himself who called 911 to report that he had shot someone. When Joliet police officers arrived at the scene around 4:38 p.m., they found Hunt in the front yard with a serious gunshot wound. Emergency medical aid was rendered until paramedics arrived and transported Hunt to St. Joseph Medical Center in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead later that evening. At the scene, officers detained Ellis and recovered a Taurus G2C 9mm handgun. Investigators learned that Ellis had a valid Firearm Owner's Identification card and a concealed carry license.
Following the shooting, the investigation moved swiftly. After being questioned by detectives, Willis Ellis was initially charged with aggravated battery with a firearm. He was subsequently taken to a local hospital for a preexisting medical condition, where he remained under police guard. The Will County State's Attorney's Office later upgraded the charges, and on May 14, Ellis was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. During a court hearing, prosecutors presented evidence, including camera footage provided by Ellis's wife that captured the incident. They argued that the video showed Hunt was not approaching Ellis at the time of the shooting and that there was no evidence Hunt was armed. A witness who was nearby preparing for her high school prom also reported seeing three other men with Hunt before they left as the argument with Ellis began. Citing the dangerousness of the act, a Will County judge denied Ellis pretrial release, ordering him to remain in the Will County Jail. The case against Willis Ellis for the death of Lyndon B. Hunt continues to move through the court system.
