On September 17, 2022, at approximately 7:14 p.m., Champaign Police were dispatched to the 1300 block of Bloomington Road for a report of a car accident and several reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers found a vehicle that had rolled over and destroyed a power pole. No occupants were located from the vehicle in the immediate area. At 7:49 p.m., a 22-year-old Champaign man walked into a local emergency room with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm. Champaign Police were immediately dispatched to the hospital to speak with the victim.
The preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was in the car when an unknown subject opened fire. During the shooting, the vehicle was struck, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle rolled over. A power pole was struck during the single-vehicle accident, leaving live wires exposed in the street. The occupants of the vehicle climbed from the wreck and fled the scene on foot. In order for officers to safely process the scene, representatives from Ameren worked quickly to secure the dangerous downed power lines.
Officers are conducting a thorough canvass of the area, seeking witnesses and video footage that may provide additional detail of investigative significance. Any resident or business in the nearby area with exterior surveillance camera systems is encouraged to notify the police department. No arrests have been made at this time and the investigation is ongoing. Future updates may be provided as they become available. Champaign Police wish to thank Ameren Illinois, Parkland Police Department, and the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance related to this incident.
Anyone who has additional information is asked to please contact police at 217-351-4545. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately. 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.
Citizens are reminded 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.
Crime Stoppers will pay cash rewards of $5,000 for tips that lead to an arrest in any homicide case, $2,500 for tips leading to an arrest in a felony crime involving a firearm, and up to $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for any other crime.