On May 13, 2018, at approximately 12:45 AM, Champaign Police responded to the area of S. First St. and E. Armory Ave. for reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, police found a 21-year-old male victim from Danville who was suffering from serious gunshot wounds. Officers immediately provided on-scene medical care with tourniquet application, and the victim was transported to an area hospital where he was treated for life-threatening injuries.
The preliminary investigation revealed the victim had been at a party in the 1100 Block of S. Second St. and was walking back to his vehicle with friends when shots were fired. The available information suggests that the victim was the intended target. As the investigation progressed, detectives identified an individual believed to be responsible for shooting the victim.
On Monday, June 4, 2018, at approximately 12:30 PM, Champaign Police detectives with assistance from the US Marshals Service and Danville Police Department arrested 20-year-old Devon Cooper of Danville. Cooper was arrested without incident in Danville, Illinois.
Although an arrest has been made, Police continue to investigate this incident and encourage anyone who was in the nearby area at the time of the shooting to call the Champaign Police Investigations Division at (217) 351-4545 or Champaign County Crime Stoppers at (217) 373-8477. Detectives will arrange to speak privately with anyone who has information.
Citizens are reminded that information submitted to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous. Calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives your information, completes a tips information form, and then passes that information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers and conversations are not recorded.
Crime Stoppers tips can be shared by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at www.373tips.com; or through the “P3 Tips” mobile application.
Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for this crime.