July 4th Fireworks Mishap: 3 Hurt, Shorewood Man Faces 4 Charges

SHOREWOOD, IL — A 51-year-old Shorewood man who police say fired off illegal fireworks including mortar tubes on July 4th that left two people hospitalized including one victim with significant burns now faces four criminal charges. Jeff Slattery was charged this week with two counts of reckless conduct and two counts of unlawful possession or sale of fireworks.

The Shorewood Police Department conducted the three-week-long investigation that led to Slattery's arrest, according to deputy chief of police Jason Barten.

According to the Will County criminal complaint, Slattery used consumer fireworks including Freedom Fighter 9 shot-motor tubes and Flicker motor tubes on July 4. The state of Illinois bans the sale, possession, and use of all consumer fireworks.

Slattery's actions, according to Shorewood police, caused bodily injuries to a man and a woman "in that he set off fireworks in close proximity" to both of the victims.

According to Barten, a total of three people were injured on July 4th. The Troy Fire Protection District transported two of the victims to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center. Barten informed Patch on Friday that one of the victims could require significant aftercare for the burns from the exploded projectile.

Slattery, who lives in the 1000 block of Butterfield Circle, remains free while awaiting his next court appearance. He has retained Joliet criminal defense lawyer Marzell Richardson of Mitchell Law Group on Joliet's North Ottawa Street as his representation, court records show.

On Friday afternoon, Richardson told Joliet Patch that he just picked up the new case this week. He said he has not had a chance to review the Shorewood police reports nor have a conversation with his new criminal defense client yet.

Will County court files indicate that Slattery has pleaded not guilty to the four criminal charges. His next court hearing is set for Oct. 19.