On May 21, 2020, at approximately 2:02 a.m., Champaign Police responded to the area of 200 South Country Fair Drive for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 25-year-old James K. Coleman with multiple gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police determined a group of individuals gathered inside an apartment for a dice game. During the game, a physical altercation took place culminating in Mr. Coleman being shot and killed.
On July 30, 2020, following continued police investigation, the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for London J. Taylor, 20, of Urbana, for the offenses of First-Degree Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon for his alleged involvement in the homicide. Bond on the warrant was set at $1 million. On Aug. 7, 2020, at approximately 9:55 a.m., Champaign Police arrested Taylor without incident at the Champaign County Courthouse. He was transported to the Champaign County Correctional Center where he is awaiting future court proceedings.
Taylor is the second arrest made in the investigation. On May 21, 2020, the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for Keith L. Baker, 24, for his alleged involvement in the homicide. On May 25, 2020, Baker surrendered to the Champaign Police Department.
Although arrests have been made, the investigation is on-going, and anyone with information about this incident is asked to please 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.