A Champaign man has been arrested following an investigation into a January 2023 homicide on Garden Hills Drive. On January 5, 2023, Champaign Police were dispatched at 5:33 p.m. to the 1200 block of Garden Hills Drive for a report of a Shooting with Injuries. Upon arrival, officers located 21-year-old Jalen Williams from Champaign suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds to the chest. Champaign Police and Fire personnel immediately rendered medical aid until he could be transported by ambulance to an area hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries.
An investigation indicated that Williams was walking in the street with Zaire Herman, 20, of Champaign, when Herman opened fire, striking Williams. Herman then fled the scene on foot. Officers conducted a thorough canvass of the surrounding area seeking physical evidence, witnesses, and video footage of investigative significance. During the canvass, multiple shell casings were located, and damage was reported to two houses. On January 11, 2023, Champaign Police arrested Herman for his involvement in this incident. He remains in the custody of the Champaign County Correctional Center awaiting arraignment on murder charges.
The Champaign Police Department would like to thank the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance during this investigation.
Although an arrest has been made, the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information 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.