Police responded just before 5:50 a.m. to the 1800-block of Burshire Court in the Clublands subdivision in Plainfield for a report of gunfire at a home in the area.
When police arrived, they found the man, Ryan Heit, dead in the yard of the home, with what appeared to be a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound.
They found a 40-year-old woman, Jennifer Heit, a mother of four, with a fatal gunshot wound in the garage.
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Four children between the ages of 3 and 16 were found awake and unharmed in the home, police said. A family member has taken them in.
Police said the man appeared to have shot and killed his wife before taking his own life outside.
Joliet police could not yet confirm if the children witnessed the shooting, or if it woke them up.
A gun was recovered.
Police continue to investigate the shooting.
Some roads appeared to be closed in the area.
Families in the area are shocked and shaken.
One woman said she heard arguing coming from the home shortly before 6 a.m., then, minutes later, gunshots.
"The neighbors heard arguing early in the morning. They also told me they've been arguing for quite some time now, a week or so. Someone heard one shot, a lot of screaming and then another shot and that's that," neighbor Sean Cochran said. "It's really sad. It's rough. We're just gonna pray for them; that's all we can do. And when my wife and daughter get home, I'm gonna hug them a little tighter tonight. I will pray for the kids, of course, and pray for our neighborhood."
Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans said this incident is a tragedy for the entire family and the community around them.
"It's just a day by day thing. One day at a time was the way our community heals itself, and we do have a tight-knit community here in Joliet. So, this is going to impact not only the police department or the fire department, the city of Joliet, but the neighbors, the community members as well as the extended family members," Evans said.
Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call the Joliet Police Department Investigation Division at 815-724-3020.
If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text the new three digit code at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255 [TALK].
You can contact the Illinois domestic violence hotline at 1-877-863-6338 click here for more information.
For those experiencing domestic violence in Kendall or Will Counties, help is available through Guardian Angel Community Services Groundwork Domestic Violence Program at 815-729-1228 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.