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A Christmas Eve gathering ended in violence after a Kankakee man allegedly broke into a Joliet apartment and attacked his girlfriend and her family.
Manuel Guerrero, 37, faces multiple charges, including home invasion, domestic battery, and criminal damage to property, following the late-night incident on Ruby Street.
According to Joliet Police, the trouble began during a drive back from a holiday gathering in Elwood.
Officers report that Guerrero struck his girlfriend in the head and took her phone while they were in the car.
Once they arrived at the victim’s apartment in the 600 block of Ruby Street, the situation escalated:
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The Break-In: The victim locked herself inside her home to escape Guerrero. Police say Guerrero smashed a glass window on the front door, pushed past a woman trying to stop him, and forced his way inside.
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The Assault: Once inside, Guerrero allegedly punched and choked his girlfriend. Even after the victim used pepper spray to defend herself, Guerrero reportedly seized the canister and used it against her.
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Family Targeted: The attack didn’t stop with the girlfriend. Guerrero is accused of pepper-spraying the victim’s 63-year-old mother and her 13-year-old daughter. He also allegedly slammed the grandmother into a wall when she tried to protect her family.
Joliet officers arrived on the scene around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday.
They found multiple family members suffering from injuries and the effects of pepper spray.
Guerrero was also injured during the struggle.
Guerrero was taken into custody and is currently held at the Will County Jail.
