The City of Champaign makes a plea to the community to end the senseless gun violence that has taken the lives of two people and injured eight others over the past two weeks. These shootings also resulted in property damage to homes, an MTD bus, and other vehicles, jeopardizing the lives of residents and innocent children. This type of behavior, perpetrated by a small group of individuals who have chosen to settle disagreements with bullets instead of words, puts lives at risk and must stop. This is a blatant disregard for human life and the City grieves with the families and community members who have lost loved ones through these senseless acts.
Many of the recent shooting incidents are targeting specific people as a result of ongoing feuds between individuals. Recent shooting scenes have included an unusually high number of rounds of ammunition being fired and the use of high-power rifle rounds capable of penetrating homes. The nature of these weapons and ammunition are such that the likelihood that bystanders and neighbors will be injured is very high if these shooting events continue.
The City is grateful for the work of our local law enforcement agencies, but police cannot do this alone. The City of Champaign is calling upon our community, neighbors, and family members to help us stop the violence and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. We urge anyone with information about these crimes to come forward and share what they know with the authorities or someone else they trust.
Champaign Police can arrange to work with residents to receive information privately by calling 217-351-4545. Tips can also be shared anonymously through Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 373tips.com, 217-373-TIPS, or through the P3 Tips mobile app. Through its Illegal Gun Bounty Program, Crime Stoppers will pay a $1,000 cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of a person who used a gun during the commission of a felony crime in Champaign County.