On Monday March 9 at approximately 4:27PM, the Champaign Police Department deployed its SWAT team to the 400 Block of E. Washington in Champaign after receiving multiple citizen reports of gunfire. The gunshots were the second report of shots fired on this block in roughly 24 hours. Seven individuals were identified as being at the scene of the crime and were taken into custody for questioning. After immediate investigations, a search warrant was subsequently issued and served and a 15-year old juvenile suspect was arrested for aggravated discharge of a firearm. A handgun was also recovered during the serving of the search warrant.
This shooting investigation is one of six incidents related to the aggravated discharge of a firearm that has occurred in Champaign over the last several days. The initial report of shots fired occurred at 6:46PM on March 6, where minutes after the report was taken a vehicle carrying several passengers arrived at the Champaign Police Department seeking assistance. One of the vehicle’s passengers, a 12-year old youth, sustained two gunshot wounds to the leg. Medical units were summoned to the Police Department, and the juvenile was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Champaign Police Chief Anthony Cobb shared, “We’re continuing to investigate these crimes and our focus is on remaining proactive. Our number one priority is keeping our citizens safe and we’re doing our best to intervene against any and all potential attacks on our neighborhoods. We want the community’s priority to be with us. We’ve had multiple calls from concerned citizens and community leaders and we encourage all of our citizens to stand united against gun violence in our community.”
Anyone with information related to the shootings are being asked to contact the Champaign Police Department by calling 217-351-4545. Champaign Police reminds citizens that information submitted to Crime Stoppers is anonymous. Calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives your information, completes a tips information form, and then passes the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers and conversations are not recorded. Anonymous tips can be shared by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at www.373tips.com; or by texting “CCTIP” plus the crime information to 274637 (CRIMES). Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for these crimes.
The reported six incidents in Champaign have taken place at the times and locations noted below. With the exception of the March 6 shooting, no other injuries have been reported.
| Date/Time | Address |
| 03/09/2015, 7:37PM | 200 Block of Brookwood |
| 03/09/2015, 4:27PM | 400 Block of Washington |
| 03/08/2015, 5:31PM | 400 Block of Washington |
| 03/08/2015, 1:38AM | 500 Block of Elm |
| 03/07/2015, 10:57PM | 500 Block of Columbia |
| 03/06/2015, 6:46PM | 1100 Block of Eureka |