Champaign Police were dispatched to an apartment building in the 2400 block of N. Neil Street at 5:09 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, for a report of a shooting with injuries. On-scene, officers quickly located a four-year-old inside an apartment who had suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the foot. They immediately administered aid with assistance from the Champaign Fire Department, and the child was quickly transported to an area hospital for treatment. The child remains hospitalized in stable condition.
The initial investigation indicates that the child was in the care of a 17-year-old male family member when a firearm was discharged inside the apartment, and the child was struck. The 17-year-old was arrested on initial charges including reckless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm. Officers conducted a search of the apartment and canvassed the surrounding area for witnesses and video footage that may be of investigative assistance. Even though an arrest has been made, this remains an ongoing investigation. Due to the ages of both the victim and the arrested subject, information that can be publicly shared about this incident is very limited. 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.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.