This morning, at approximately 10:59 a.m., the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force with assistance from the United States Marshals Service arrested 26-year-old Dante D. Pickens (pictured left) of Champaign in the 1100 block of West Bradley Avenue.
An arrest warrant was previously issued for Pickens for the offense of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm in connection to a Nov. 18, 2018, shooting. Bond on the warrant was set at $500,000.
On Nov. 18, 2018 at approximately 1:45 a.m., Champaign Police responded to the 700 block of N. Hickory Street following reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, police learned a 25-year-old female victim had been transported to a local hospital with life-threatening gunshot wounds after the vehicle she was in was fired upon by another vehicle while leaving the American Legion.
Pickens is the third suspect to be arrested in connection to the shooting.
Although an arrest has been made, police continue to investigation the incident. Anyone who may have information related to this or other shootings should contact police at 217-351-4545. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately with police. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at 373tips.com; or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.
Champaign Police reminds citizens 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 the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers and conversations are not recorded.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.