A teenage triggerman was jailed for his part in a Eastern Avenue shootout, Joliet police said.

Officers caught up with the 16-year-old on Columbia Street about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Once in custody, the teen confessed to shooting at another man, police said. The young man did reportedly explain to officers that the other guy shot at him first.

Prior to the teen's arrest, officers rushed over to Eastern Avenue to investigate a report of six or seven shots having been fired.

Whle enroute, a call came in that witnesses had spotted a young man walking away from the area of the shooting and was making his way along Irving Street.

Officers tracked this young man to the back of 501 Columbia St. They found the teen holding a .45-caliber pistol, police said, but he dropped it when officers ordered him to. He then reportedly related that someone else was shooting at him and yes, he did shoot back.

The teen was transported to River Valley Juvenile Detention Center. He was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, reckless discharge of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm owner's identification card, possession of a firearm without an owner's identification card, and possession of a firearm by a street gang member.