Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice | Community

Champaign County Sheriff’s Office knew Norman Meeker had an alcohol problem for a decade. Why did it take a flipped truck and a DUI for Meeker to leave the force?
ByCU-CitizenAccess January 10, 2022January 11, 2022

This story is part of a partnership between the Invisible Institute and CU-CitizenAccess exploring police misconduct in Champaign County. Champaign County Sheriff’s Sergeant Norman “JR” Meeker had a 10-year history of disciplinary violations, including destruction of personal property, contract violations, a Tik Tok account that shared bodycam videos of crime scenes, and mountains of missed paperwork. Yet,…

Read More Champaign County Sheriff’s Office knew Norman Meeker had an alcohol problem for a decade. Why did it take a flipped truck and a DUI for Meeker to leave the force?
Criminal Justice | Community

Champaign shootings spread to westward neighborhoods over years, fueled by recent surge in gun violence
ByCU-CitizenAccess December 22, 2021December 22, 2021

CHAMPAIGN — Gun violence in Champaign has steadily marched westward over the past three years as shootings have increased in neighborhoods north and south of West Springfield Avenue, especially in or near several apartment complexes, according to a review of police data over the past seven years by CU-CitizenAccess.org. Three of the four top blocks…

Read More Champaign shootings spread to westward neighborhoods over years, fueled by recent surge in gun violence
Criminal Justice

Champaign’s way out of gun violence starts with $3.2 million in pandemic relief
ByEmily Hays December 15, 2021December 15, 2021

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign has a new plan to stop the recent spike in shootings. The Champaign City Council approved the plan unanimously on Tuesday night after hearing two hours of testimonies about gun violence in the city. Samantha Carter lives in Garden Hills, one of the most affected neighborhoods. “I would like to share with…

Read More Champaign’s way out of gun violence starts with $3.2 million in pandemic relief
Criminal Justice | Education

Threats cause concerns at two local high schools
ByReginald Hardwick December 3, 2021December 3, 2021

Updated at 4:30 p.m. CHAMPAIGN – School officials have lifted a lockdown at Champaign Central High School, which was imposed Friday after several fights broke out. Unit 4 spokesperson Stacey Moore says police were called after a large group of students rushed out of the school and one student claimed that a gun was involved in…

Read More Threats cause concerns at two local high schools
Community | Criminal Justice | Education

Teens are remodeling this house to give themselves, and future tenants, a stable future
ByEmily Hays November 30, 2021November 30, 2021

CHAMPAIGN – For two years, the Housing Authority of Champaign County’s YouthBuild program has helped young people finish their high school diplomas, while renovating public housing properties. The program managers also see the training program as a youth violence prevention initiative. “It’s a safe place where they can come in and talk, and we provide…

Read More Teens are remodeling this house to give themselves, and future tenants, a stable future
Criminal Justice | Education

C-U schools are considering metal detectors to deter violence. This researcher says that won’t help
ByEmily Hays November 19, 2021November 18, 2021

URBANA — School districts in Champaign and Urbana are considering installing metal detectors in response to a rise in youth violence. But a social science researcher says metal detectors are not as effective as more long-term violence prevention. Jun Sung Hong is a professor at the School of Social Work at Wayne State University and…

Read More C-U schools are considering metal detectors to deter violence. This researcher says that won’t help
Community | Criminal Justice

Addressing gun violence requires everyone’s help, say News Brews & Beatz speakers
ByJim Meadows November 16, 2021November 16, 2021

CHAMPAIGN – The rise in gun violence in Champaign-Urbana and elsewhere can be traced back to the trauma young people of color are experiencing. And addressing it effectively requires a united effort from the entire community. Those were takeaways from the discussion Monday night at the Pour Brothers Craft Taproom in downtown Champaign. The event,…

Read More Addressing gun violence requires everyone’s help, say News Brews & Beatz speakers
Criminal Justice | Education | Race & Culture

Urbana schools debate installing AI-powered metal detectors
ByEmily Hays November 4, 2021November 4, 2021

URBANA — Urbana High School students and staff may soon walk through AI-powered metal detectors to get to class. The District 116 Board of Education spent Tuesday night debating whether to install the new technology, called Evolv Express. Superintendent Jennifer Ivory-Tatum told the board that rising community violence has left staff drained. “They’re doing patrolling…

Read More Urbana schools debate installing AI-powered metal detectors
Criminal Justice | Education

Centennial High School upperclassmen build back school community after the pandemic
ByEmily Hays November 2, 2021November 2, 2021

CHAMPAIGN — Ninth graders started this fall at Centennial High School with trauma. There were midday gunshots near the Champaign high school in September. Other incidents included a social media threat and a student who brought a gun to school. The rattled freshmen turned to their peer advisor, Centennial senior Hussein Al-Juboory. “They were asking,…

Read More Centennial High School upperclassmen build back school community after the pandemic
Criminal Justice | Education | Race & Culture

Champaign schools will continue to use private security in the wake of police officer shortages
ByEmily Hays October 26, 2021

CHAMPAIGN – Chicago-based security company AGB will continue to guard Champaign public schools this year. The company won out against the other bidder for the work — Stockholm-based Securitas. The Champaign Unit 4 School District Board of Education unanimously approved the contract on Monday, with questions about how the company has done so far. “There’s…

Read More Champaign schools will continue to use private security in the wake of police officer shortages
Criminal Justice

Man arrested for deadly Champaign legion post shooting
ByReginald Hardwick October 14, 2021October 14, 2021

CHAMPAIGN – A 20-year-old man was arraigned today for a deadly mass shooting that occurred in Champaign in July. The Champaign County State’s Attorney Office is charging Davucci Craig with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting at the American Legion post on Hickory Street. Police say Craig shot and killed 17-year-old Kieshaun Thatch, who…

Read More Man arrested for deadly Champaign legion post shooting
Criminal Justice

Illinois State grad student Jelani Day celebrated at hometown service
ByReginald Hardwick October 10, 2021

DANVILLE – Hundreds filled Danville High School’s auditorium on Saturday, October 9, to celebrate the life of Jelani Day. The 25-year-old was reported missing in late August. At the time, he was pursuing a graduate degree in speech pathology at Illinois State University. Speakers celebrated Day’s dream of becoming a doctor. And how he pursued…

Read More Illinois State grad student Jelani Day celebrated at hometown service
Criminal Justice

Police Search For Killer Of Champaign Teenager
ByReginald Hardwick October 2, 2021October 2, 2021

CHAMPAIGN – Police in Champaign are still searching for the person who shot and killed a Centennial High School student. On Friday, the city identified the victim as 17-year-old Jonathon McPhearson. Officers said McPhearson was sitting along West Kirby Avenue on Thursday afternoon when multiple people in masks walked up and opened fire on him. So…

Read More Police Search For Killer Of Champaign Teenager
Criminal Justice | Education

Champaign School Bus Hit With Gunfire; No Students Hurt
ByIPM News September 9, 2021September 9, 2021

CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign Unit 4 school bus was struck by gunfire Thursday while transporting students home. No students or staff were injured. A statement from the Champaign Police Department says officers responded to the area of Neil Street and Arcadia Drive just before 3 pm for the report of shots fired. Police found a crash involving…

Read More Champaign School Bus Hit With Gunfire; No Students Hurt
Community | Criminal Justice

“A Great Loss To Us All;” Funeral Held For U of I Police Lieutenant
ByJim Meadows August 31, 2021September 1, 2021

URBANA – Family, friends and fellow police officers said farewell to University of Illinois Police lieutenant Aaron Landers Tuesday, at a funeral held at the Vineyard Church in Urbana. The 50-year-old Landers died August 23rd, from injuries suffered in a five-vehicle traffic crash the day before in Champaign. A driver involved in the accident has…

Read More “A Great Loss To Us All;” Funeral Held For U of I Police Lieutenant