On Aug. 15, 2019, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Champaign Police were called to the 500 block of East Columbia Avenue for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, police discovered evidence confirming a shooting had occurred and soon learned two shooting victims arrived at area hospitals, both by personal transport.
A 30-year-old male victim arrived with two non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Approximately 30 minutes later, a 29-year-old male victim arrived with a single graze gunshot wound.
The preliminary investigation revealed the two victims were engaged in a personal dispute with the suspect prior to the shooting.
The investigation identified 19-year-old Gregory Smith (pictured) of Urbana as the suspect. At approximately 1:43 a.m., Smith was apprehended in the 500 block of East Washington Street in Champaign for the offense of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm and Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon. He was transported to the Champaign County Correctional Center where he is awaiting future court proceedings.
The Champaign Police Department would like to thank the Urbana Police Department and the University of Illinois Police Department for their assistance in the investigation and the apprehension of the suspect.
Although an arrest has been made, this is still an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked contact police at 217-351-4545. Arrangements may be made for information to be shared privately. If you wish to remain anonymous you 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.