Shorewood Police: Stolen AK-47 Rifle Seized After Chase

SHOREWOOD, IL — The Shorewood Police Department arrested a 23-year-old Joliet area man who has been wanted for questioning by the Illinois State Police in connection with the July 2019 killing of Joliet resident Floyd Faint Jr. along the I&M Canal Trail near Brandon Road.

At the time of Sunday night's arrest of Deamonte T. Hunter, Shorewood police say they recovered two loaded pistols and one fully loaded AK-47 assault rifle inside the abandoned Mercury Mountaineer.

Hunter was a front-seat passenger inside the vehicle, police said.

According to deputy chief Jason Barten, a Shorewood patrol officer tried to stop the Mercury Mountaineer after its driver committed numerous unsafe traffic infractions shortly before 11:30 p.m. on Sunday near Black and River Roads.

The vehicle sped away, and the Shorewood officer gave chase through the Rollingwood Subdivision. Rollingwood is south of Black Road and west of Brook Forest Avenue.

Police indicated the driver and Hunter both jumped out of the moving vehicle as they pulled into the driveway of an unfamiliar house. According to Shorewood police the assault rifle nearly fell out of the vehicle as Hunter ran from the passenger seat. A loaded AK-47 magazine was also found along the path Hunter ran, police said.

"The vehicle then crashed through a fence and came to a stop," police reports show. "Two females laid concealed in the rear seat of the Mountaineer when the front passengers ran. The officer pursued on foot and took the 23-year-old front seat passenger, Deamonte T. Hunter, into custody in the backyard of the residence."

In time, Shorewood officers recovered three loaded firearms from the Mountaineer, police said. There were two loaded pistols laid on the front driver’s seat and a stolen loaded AK-47 assault rifle wedged between the front passenger seat floor board, reports show.

The two female passengers in the back seat got away as officers chased after Hunter, reports show. The driver also got away.

"Shorewood officers believe the three occupants at large were picked up by another vehicle and left the area. The Shorewood Police do not believe any offenders related to this incident remain at large in the Village of Shorewood," the department announced.

Hunter was booked into the Will County Jail around 8 a.m. on Monday. He has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a convicted felon and resisting the arrest, jail logs show.

On Monday afternoon, Deputy Chief Barten told Joliet Patch that his agency has reached out to the Illinois State Police to make them aware of Hunter's capture. Last year, the Will County Crimestoppers announced that state police were attempting to locate Hunter for questioning surrounding the violent death of Floyd Faint Jr., 29.

Faint was killed on a Saturday morning along a section of the I&M Canal Trail near Brandon Road. Then, in late April, Faint's father,Floyd Faint Sr., 48, was gunned down outside his Joliet house near the intersection of Henderson Avenue and Francis Street.

As for Hunter, he will appear before a Will County judge for a bail hearing on Tuesday afternoon, jail records reflect.