Townsel

On February 21, 2026, at 9:30 p.m., officers responded to the Joliet Gateway Center (90 East Jefferson Street) reported disturbance.

Officers were advised that two adult men were involved in a verbal argument that began in a lobby restroom and continued into the main lobby. A Gateway Center security guard intervened in an attempt to stop the argument. During the incident, one of the men was observed carrying a backpack and began grabbing it in a manner that suggested he may have been armed.

Officers were provided with a description of the male with the backpack and later located him near the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Washington Street. The individual was identified as Terrion Townsel (34, Chicago), who was standing near a partially open backpack at his feet.

Townsel told officers that he did not have a firearm. When officers attempted to conduct a pat-down for weapons, Townsel resisted, attempted to push away from officers, and tried to flee while ignoring commands to stop.

During the ensuing struggle, Townsel fell to the ground and attempted to grab his backpack. An officer deployed a taser, and Townsel was taken into custody without further incident. Officers then recovered a loaded 9mm handgun from inside Townsel’s open backpack. A records check revealed the firearm had been reported stolen out of Chicago.

After being transported to the Joliet Police Department, Townsel complained of a medical issue and was transported by the Joliet Fire Department to St. Joseph Medical Center. Townsel was released from the hospital on February 24, 2026, and he refused to cooperate with processing.

He was charged with Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Unlawful Use or Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Obstructing Justice, and two counts of Resisting or Obstructing a Peace Officer. Townsel was subsequently transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.