Charges have been filed against six people in connection to Sunday’s shooting at Market Place Mall in Champaign. Five males, previously considered persons of interest in the shooting, were charged Tuesday with aggravated battery with a firearm.
Champaign police spokeswoman Rene Dunn said in a press release that Frank J. Day, 24 years old, Raighee T. Day, 24 years old, Ronald A. Harris, 18 years old, Quaran Irland-Coleman, 18 years old and Tyree O. Williams, 17 years old, had been charged with the Class X felony. All five are residents of Milwaukee, Wis.
On Monday, the Champaign Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm for Dontrell L. Thompson, 28 years old, who is also a Milwaukee resident, according to a press release from Julia Rietz, state’s attorney for Champaign County.
Rietz said Thompson remains hospitalized at Carle Hospital. Bail is fixed at $2.5 million.
Anthony Brock, 28 years old, of Champaign, was shot by Thompson and remains hospitalized, Rietz said.
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Rietz said on Sunday at approximately 4:35 p.m., a witness reported seeing a purple Chrysler Pacifica with Wisconsin plates driving recklessly on I-74 westbound.
The witness followed the vehicle to Market Place Mall and saw it park near Bergner’s and the Food Court. The witness then reported seeing multiple individuals exit the vehicle, with one carrying a gun in his back pocket.
The Champaign, Urbana and University police departments responded, along with the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.
Rietz reported that evidence indicates the six men entered the mall separately. According to Rietz, Thompson located Brock, followed him out of the mall and opened fire on him at the exit by LensCrafters.
Champaign police had located the vehicle in the mall parking lot and were nearby to hear the shots, responding immediately. Police then ordered Thompson to drop his gun and when Thompson did not, officers opened fire on Thompson. The other charged individuals exited the mall and denied knowing him or having a connection with the shooting when questioned.
However, investigation has shown there is an ongoing feud between Brock and associates of the charged men and that the Days are first cousins to Thompson, Rietz said.
All six charged men came to Champaign from Milwaukee in the vehicle earlier in the day on Sunday, according to the investigation.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Champaign Police Department and the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.