On Dec. 4, 2020, at approximately 5:32 p.m., Champaign Police responded to the 1900 block of West Kirby Avenue for the report of a potential hostage situation from an individual believed to be suffering from mental illness. Upon arrival, officers discovered an 18-year-old male with multiple felony warrants for his arrest barricaded inside of a private residence.
In addition to responding patrol officers, members of the Champaign Police Special Weapons and Tactics Team and Champaign Police Negotiators responded to the scene and learned the subject made attempts to take his family hostage and to do harm to them. Upon the family safely removing themselves from the encounter, the subject barricaded himself inside the family residence armed with a knife and was believed to be suicidal.
At approximately 7:19 p.m., Champaign Police observed a possible fire coming from inside the residence, believed to have been ignited by the subject inside of the kitchen area. The Champaign Fire Department was dispatched to the residence and staged at the scene.
At approximately 7:48 p.m., the subject, identified as Trevor Lewis, was arrested by Champaign Police. Once the scene was deemed safe by Champaign Police, the Champaign Fire Department was able to promptly extinguish the fire. There was significant fire damage throughout the home and the occupants will be displaced because of the fire.
Lewis was transported to a local hospital to be treated for injuries consistent with burn wounds. No additional injuries were reported to Champaign Police or the Champaign Fire Department.
Champaign Police would like to thank the Champaign Fire Department for their immediate assistance in the investigation.