Another person who was present called police at 4:40 a.m. to report the shooting. At 9:24p.m., an associate professor called police to report her missing. Urbana man charged with murder in 2019 shooting in west Champaign digital.media, The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana) Wed, 05/22/2019 - 5:00am Page 1; Page 2; . Its no different than trying to show off who has the most money. 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. [2] In 2013, Zhang graduated from Sun Yat-sen University at the top of her class. Date of Occurrence: November 17, 2014, at approximately 10:00p.m. Location of Occurrence: W. Church St., West of Mattis Ave., Champaign. The room looked nice but the halls to the room were also dark . Feb 20, 2015 at 10:25 am. A lot of it has to do with disagreements or past issues that were never really resolved, he said. There was also a larger number of assaults at 356. Location of Occurrence: 1200 block of Clock St., Champaign. Steve Chen. New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks, Fiery tanker crash kills driver, burns Maryland homes, Marianne Williamson begins longshot 2024 challenge to Biden. Location of Occurrence: 2600 block of Lawndale Dr., Champaign Description: Officers discovered Mr. Hopkins inside of a private residence with a fatal gunshot wound. [9] She was considering entering a doctoral program at the University of Illinois. . Description: Officers responded to the 400 block of East Hill St. for reports of shots heard. Rumblings from the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project, The Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University and an impending show on CBS's 48 Hours were that two men had been wrongfully convicted for these murders. Date of Occurrence: July 1, 2003, at approximately 8:54p.m. [2][28] Concurrent with this questioning, agents at Christensen's apartment sought and obtained written permission from another occupant of the residence for search and seizure of items at the residence. O'Connor killed a police officer and was scheduled to be executed when he escaped. 1. The son, and father of two, was 22 years old. Miller was arrested in the 1100 block of North James Street, Champaign. Homicide numbers were at a 10-year high in Springfield, Decatur and Kankakee. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers and conversations are not recorded. The answer is uniformly that they feel the need to defend themselves. Champaign Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout Zhang has one younger brother, Zhengyang. On July 14, 2022, at approximately 5:14 a.m., Champaign Police responded to the 400 block of E. Beardsley Avenue for a report of a shooting with injury. Forensic evaluations returned to Police would determine that Ms. Butler had been sexually assaulted and that her death involved foul play. Christensen lured Zhang into his car at a bus stop on campus posing as a police officer with the promise of a ride after she missed a bus, but then took her to his apartment where he raped and murdered her while his wife was out of town for the weekend. There were 11 homicides in the two cities, including nine in Champaign. Description: Officers responded to the 100 block of North State St. for the report of a robbery. Agents took possession of computers and a cellphone belonging to Christensen, and subsequently sought and obtained a federal search warrant for a forensic examination of the phone. Of 15 murders in Champaign County during 2020, the instrument of death for 12 of those people was a gun. Editorial | Murders up across the U.S., not just in Champaign-Urbana. Listen Now MURDERED: Tracy Kirkpatrick When 17-year-old Tracy Kirkpatrick is found murdered in March 1989, investigators struggle to find any evidence pointing to who killed her. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)- The number of people murdered in the City of Champaign reached an all-time high in 2021. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Mr. Beasley was found in the street with apparent gunshot wounds. [12] As the hours passed, Zhang's friends, aware of her errand and expecting her to return quickly, grew increasingly worried. People who live in Champaign County generally consider the southeast part of the county to be the safest for this type of crime. Mr.. Social media, he said, has become a tool to call out others, or to quickly alert an ally to the location of a perceived enemy. In early December 2019, Christensen reported to USP McCreary in Pine Knot, Kentucky to begin serving his life sentence. At a courthouse thousands of miles from his home in China, a father pleaded with a killer to tell him where his daughter's body was last placed. She was the daughter of the late Alfred and Bessie Maurer. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) Candidates for Champaign Mayor, city council and more participated in a forum Sunday at Champaign Public . Surveillance video cameras showed that a black Saturn Astra passed by her at 2:00p.m. as she waited at the bus stop, and then circled back around and stopped where she was waiting at 2:03p.m.[2][12][13] She spoke to the driver for approximately one minute, and then entered the car. Over the next two days, Christensen claimed he disposed of Zhang's personal belongings in various dumpsters in the Champaign-Urbana area. Click here to see our subscription options. In total, the likelihood of being victimized by a crime in Urbana, is 1 in 35. Additionally, Christensen was recorded saying that Zhang had resisted and fought with him, and he was also recorded threatening someone who then provided incriminating evidence to authorities. In 2020, 57 were shot, and 34 in 2019. The victim was rushed to a local hospital; however, he did not survive his injuries. Police intervention fatalities include: Domestic violence suspects killed by law enforcement officers responding to intimate partner violence or threats of violence. Gun sales also soared during the pandemic, and 77 percent of the homicides last year were committed with a firearm. Homicide Archives - City of Champaign . 82 E. University Ave. 2. According to our research of Illinois and other state lists, there were 133 registered sex offenders living in Champaign, Illinois as of March 04, 2023. Steven Butler, III of Champaign - picture posted to Missing Persons Awareness Network Facebook page. [2] Zhang planned to marry her boyfriend, Xiaolin Hou, in October 2017. 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Description: On December 24, 1991, Officers responded to Ms. Hulls residence after receiving a report that she had been found unresponsive with traumatic injury. FBI 2019 Crime Report: See Trends in Illinois - Patch Please provide the name and date of birth of your loved one. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Danville, IL Is Among the Most Dangerous US Metro Areas #6 Best Places to Live in Champaign County. The investigation revealed the victims were outside of a private residence standing near a parked car when they were shot by unknown assailant(s) from an open area across the street. 2021 End of Year Gun Violen by Neil Street, Its alarming, Champaign Deputy Chief Geoff Coon said. She arrived in the United States in April 2017 to conduct research on photosynthesis and crop productivity for one year[7] in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences,[8] within the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES), at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dec. 28: Lisa Lewis, 36, of Champaign, shot multiple times in a car in the 2000 block of Moreland Boulevard, C; no arrests. Minutes later, a passing motorist used Tatmans squad car radio to notify dispatch that there was an unresponsive policeman lying near his vehicle. He sent the pants to the Illinois State Police lab and they confirmed that it (came from) Keonte Campbell, said Newell, calling that just one significant piece of evidence that enabled police to link him to the shooting. Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Domestic Violence Fatalities and Homicide Rates in Washington State A rough year for gunfire, deaths in Champaign County Champaign, Illinois 61820-6914 (217) 819-5000 . After resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, Mr. Ledbetter was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. (The US average is 22.7) Champaign property crime is 42.3. As officers and medical personnel arrived, they determined Mr. Boyd to be deceased with injuries that suggested foul play was involved. [2], On June 15, local police and FBI investigators questioned Christensen and executed a search warrant for his car. Aug 18, 1978. The victim, identified as Gerryontae Brown, did not survive his injuries. [12] Christensen, born June 30, 1989, is a former Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois. CPD Detectives are dedicated to investigating every lead possible to help bring justice to individuals, families, and to our community when it is impacted by crime and violence. [12] Investigators noted that the passenger door of his car "appeared to have been cleaned to a more diligent extent than the other vehicle doors", which they said "may be indicative of an attempt or effort to conceal or destroy evidence". Illinois Man Convicted In Chinese Student Killing Gets Life In Prison He later told investigators that he may have been sleeping, or at home playing video games. Cain, was transported to the Champaign County Jail where he will remain. November 8, 2019. Champaign, Illinois, United States . Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES), Kidnapping resulting in death (18 U.S.C. Police investigations Lt. Ben Newell credited really good investigative work by Detective Steve Vogel in closing what had been considered a cold case. Location of Occurrence: 100 block of North State St., Champaign. These sorts of crimes against personal property include: burglary, theft, and auto theft. Your chance of being a victim of murder in Champaign County may be as high as 1 in 9,135 in the central neighborhoods, or as . Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217- 373-8477 (TIPS); online at, Suspect in Homicide Investigation Surrenders to Police. [18] On July 14 the reward was increased to $50,000. Violent Crimes - Murder Rape Robbery Assault Property Crimes - Burglary Larceny Auto Theft Crime Rate per 100,000 Pop. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Nov. 12: Gerryontae Brown, 16, shot to death in his own home in the 600 block of East Eureka Street; Calvin Williams, 18, of Champaign, awaiting trial for murder. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217- 373-8477 (TIPS); online at www.373tips.com; or the P3 Tips mobile app. Low 32F. Consider, for example, a Dec. 4 incident in which two men in a vehicle fired at Champaign County sheriffs deputies trying to stop their vehicle for speeding. 0. On March 18, 2012, Mr. Jacksons body was discovered hidden in the backyard of a vacant house in the 1500 block of Hedge Rd., with suggestion that foul play was involved. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim, later identified as Mr. Roth, who had sustained life-threatening injuries. Date of Occurrence: October 30, 2018, at approximately 8:44 p.m. The rate of murder in Champaign is 0.06 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. [38][10] Evidence was provided that before Christensen abducted Zhang, he had posed as an undercover police officer and attempted to abduct graduate student Emily Hogan. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. *Date of occurrence may refer to the time the incident was reported to police. Bob . What a game', 'Craziness' of Illini helps secure double overtime win, Editorial | White Castle ruling leaves bad taste in business community's mouth, New Illini-centered name, image, likeness collective targets big-dollar donations, Man charged in connection with 35 pounds of cannabis in his home. Game Day. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Location of Occurrence: 700 block of Hickory St., Champaign The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. And she suspects before, or sentenced to death", "Champaign Man Arrested, Charged with Kidnapping Visiting Scholar", "Flowers, anger, regret as accused kidnapper indicted", "Grand Jury Indicts Champaign Man on Charge of Kidnapping", "Accused kidnapper's attorney says he'll plead not guilty today", "Defense in trial of China scholar's brutal death: He did it", "In opening statement, attorney admits Brendt Christensen abducted, killed Chinese scholar at University of Illinois", "Brendt Christensen found guilty in Yingying Zhang's kidnapping, killing", "Life in prison for man convicted of killing Chinese student", "A father's plea to a killer: Tell us where our daughter's remains are", "Yingying Zhang's Family Told Her Body Likely In Landfill Near Danville, But 'May Be Impossible' To Recover", "Finding Yingying Zhang's Remains 'May Be Impossible' Family Says After New Details Surface", "Brendt Christensen Moved to Kentucky Prison to Serve Out Life Sentence", "UI again files motion to have lawsuit from slain scholar's family dismissed", "Visiting Scholar From China, Remembered With A Garden At U Of I", "Memorial garden dedicated to missing scholar Yingying Zhang", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Yingying_Zhang&oldid=1142917489, Anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States, Anti-Chinese violence in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text, Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 March 2023, at 00:55. Stateman Hoffs life was cut short when a fight broke out at a party in northwest Champaign in 2016. Most recently, Ohio State defeated Illinois 72-60 on Sunday . For the last few years, its been known there are these high-powered weapons in the community and many of them are possessed by people not allowed to have them, he said. Allerton Park . [19] On August 19, Zhang's mother and younger brother also flew to the United States. I said, Okay, I love you,' Hoff shared. A former University of Illinois doctoral student was convicted Monday of killing a visiting scholar from China after abducting her at a bus stop as she headed to sign an off-campus apartment. Although, the effort overlaps some. Front Desk: 217-351-4545 Partly cloudy skies. The bond on the warrant was set at $2 million. Zhang's family traveled to Salem to follow possible leads and the FBI investigated the reports, but it was later determined that the woman was not Zhang.