32 Second Secrets

    On November 6, 2021, Jabbar Muhammad and Eldred Wells were pronounced dead after Will County policemen arrived on the scene. A 911 call reporting potential domestic abuse had been placed. It was initially stated that the deputies had attempted to calm Jabbar down, ordering him to put his knife down. When Jabbar lunged at his grandfather, the deputies shot Jabbar in an attempt to save Eldred Wells’ life. In one statement, it was disclosed that the policemen had gotten to the home at 4:07 pm, while a paramedic report stated that at 4:08 pm, Jabbar Muhammad was dead. As recounted by Joliet patch reporters, both men were killed within 32 seconds of the deputies arriving at the Joliet Township home. In the 32 seconds that the Joliet policemen had been officially on the scene, what happened to Jabbar and his grandfather? After more than one year, the question remains the same. 

    Earlier this year, CBS reporters Dave Savini and Samah Assad, wrote a story about how two Joliet police officers lied about Eldred Wells’ cause of death. Initially reported as being fatally stabbed in the neck by his grandson, paramedics revealed that the grandfather had been shot. Eldred Wells was shot once in the back and once in his hand. Similarly, Jabbar had 15 gunshot wounds. 3 shots went to his head and 12 to his body. For approximately one month, relatives were unaware of Eldred’s gunshot wounds entirely. As Savini and Assad wrote, the Task Force never disclosed that information in their public statements regarding the incident. 

    The family filed a lawsuit against the Will County police department under the Freedom of Information Act, asking to see the body camera footage. Rhonda Wells, mother of Jabbar and daughter of Eldred, admitted to Savini and Assad in an interview, "I was always told that the children should bury the parents, not the parents bury the children," Rhonda said. "In this case, I had to bury a parent and a child." Later in the interview, Rhonda had stated that she simply wanted to know what truly happened and why. "Don't leave us just with our thoughts. Just let us know…we have nothing. We just want to know the facts." Still, Will County sheriff, Mike Kelley refuses to release the body camera footage.

Will the Wells family finally gain closure, or will the footage of what transpired that tragic night continue to rip their family apart? Sadie Mitchell, sister of Eldred and great aunt of Jabbar, revealed to Savini and Assad that she never knew it would take so long for the family to get answers. She continued on to say that the family deserves answers. Sadie is not the only person who remains haunted by the loss.