Community Members Urged to Assist in Providing Information
Local law enforcement agencies are working together to investigate seven incidents related to the aggravated discharge of a firearm that have occurred in the Urbana-Champaign area since late Friday evening. Police agencies have identified these incidents as being related to two feuding groups, who have fired numerous gunshots into targeted homes and cars. There have been no injuries, yet a total of 28 people, including 17 children, have been in some of those targeted homes at the times of the shootings. The incidents occurred at the following locations:
| Date/Time | Address |
| 02/13/2015, 11:13PM | 200 Block of S. Dodson, Urbana |
| 02/14/2015, 02:10AM | Walnut & Washington, Champaign |
| 02/15/2015, 10:13PM | 1300 Block of Berkley, Urbana |
| 02/16/2015, 02:02AM | 1200 Block of E. Eads, Urbana |
| 02/16/2015, 03:22AM | 400 Block of S. Dodson, Urbana (Champaign County) |
| 02/16/2015, 06:01AM | 1100 Block of N. Goodwin, Urbana |
| 02/16/2015, 08:54PM | 1200 Block of W. Beslin, Urbana |
Champaign, Urbana, and University of Illinois Police Departments and the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office are following-up on leads as information is received. The agencies have increased police presence to investigate these cases and to provide greater safety patrol in the targeted areas. We are asking for the community’s support and encouraging citizens with information related to these crimes to report to any of the four agencies.
“I am incredibly concerned that it will only be a matter of time before one of the kids in our community will be inadvertently hit by gunfire,” says Urbana Chief Patrick Connolly. “My hope is that we can resolve this before anyone is hurt,” he added.
While Police understand these incidents to be targeted, they encourage the community to be alert and to make note of any suspicious behaviors. “We have officers dedicated to investigating these cases, yet we still need the community’s help. It is critical that our citizens and police work together to ensure we have safer neighborhoods and safer communities,” shared Champaign Chief Anthony Cobb.
If citizens have access to photographs, video, or information related to the shootings, they are being asked to share it with any of the four police agencies listed above, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (217) 373-8477 (TIPS). Anonymous tips can also be submitted online to Crime Stoppers at www.373tips.com or by texting the following: CCTIP plus the 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.