On Nov. 21, 2019, at approximately 10:31 p.m., Champaign Police received reports of shots heard in the area of State Street and Bradley Avenue. Upon arrival, officers began searching for a scene when they were notified three male shooting victims, ages 19, 19 and 20, arrived at a local hospital by personal vehicle. All three victims were treated and released.
The investigation revealed the suspect fired towards a vehicle, striking the victims and the vehicle multiple times. A firearm and cannabis were recovered from the scene, which police later identified as the driveway of a private residence in the 600 block of Alabama Avenue.
On Jan. 27, 2020, following an extensive investigation by Champaign Police, the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for Gregory Sappington, 38, for the offense of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm and Armed Robbery. Bond on the warrant was set at $150,000. Sappington’s last known address was listed in the 1100 block of Beardsley Avenue in Champaign.
On Feb. 27, 2020, at approximately 10:23 a.m., the United States Marshals Service with assistance from the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force arrested Sappington without incident in the 1100 block of Beardsley Avenue. He is currently being held at the Champaign County Correctional Center where he is awaiting future court proceedings.
The Champaign Police Department would like to thank the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office and the United States Marshals Service for their assistance during this investigation.
Although an arrest has been made, this remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to please call 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.
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.