Champaign Police were dispatched at 1:54 a.m. on May 19, 2024, to the 1100 block of N. Mattis Avenue for a report of a shooting with injuries. Upon arrival, officers located a scene with evidence of gunfire but no witnesses who could say what had happened. A short time later, two victims arrived at an area hospital by personal transport. Additional officers were immediately dispatched to the hospital to interview the victims. The victims were a 24-year-old male victim from Rantoul with a life-threatening injury from a gunshot wound to the torso and a 28-year-old male victim also from Rantoul with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to his leg. The 24-year-old man was treated for his wounds but succumbed to his injuries a short time later. The 28-year-old man remains hospitalized in stable condition.
The initial investigation indicates that people were in the parking lot of a business near the intersection of Mattis & Bradley when yet-unknown subjects produced firearms and opened fire. As a result of the gunfire, the two victims were struck. All involved parties then fled the area. In addition to the injuries, property damage has been reported to one vehicle.
Officers continue to canvass the surrounding area for witnesses and video footage that may be of investigative assistance. Any resident or business in the nearby area with exterior surveillance camera systems is encouraged to notify the police department. The investigation remains ongoing. Future updates may be provided as they become available.
Champaign Police ask that anyone who has additional information please call 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.