Man shot, critically wounded by DEA agents outside Joliet mall

FOX 32/SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE - Gunshots were fired by the Drug Enforcement Administration during an investigation outside a mall in southwest suburban Joliet Tuesday evening.

Agents were “conducting an investigation” near the Louis Joliet Mall Tuesday evening when the shots were fired, the Joliet Police Department wrote on its Facebook page. No law enforcement officers were injured.

"We were walking to our car me and my girlfriend and next thing you know you hear the gunshots. We were literally 15 cars away,” a witness said.

Sources told FOX 32 that 31-year-old Aidan Godinez of Morris displayed a gun at the officers and they fired back. He was shot in the leg and taken to Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet in critical condition, according to the Joliet Fire Department..

FOX 32 was told Godinez may have ties to the Mexican cartel. No word on his condition.

Another man was also arrested, but he was not injured.

Witnesses say they saw at least two in custody.

"I saw the undercovers first a bunch of men running out of their cars and I saw the Joliet police arrive after that I saw two of the gentlemen’s getting TAKEN into custody. Other than that it was a very intense situation," one witness said.

The mall did not shut down during this investigation.

A spokesperson released the following statement to FOX 32: "The mall is open for business. We are fully supporting first responders in their investigation regarding an isolated incident."

Police want to remind the public that there is no threat to the public.