Members of the Champaign-Urbana community met at the Champaign City Council Chambers on June 10 to address five shootings that occurred between June 7-10.
The news conference was prompted by the shootings which occurred last weekend and left six men injured. Two shootings occurred June 7 and were located in the 1100 block of Mimosa Drive and in the 400 block of East Washington Street. The two shootings which occurred June 8 were located in the 1300 block of North Hickory Street and in the 1200 block of West Bradley Avenue.
Lekevie Johnson Sr., pastor of Jericho Missionary Baptist Church, spoke of his hope for his peaceful interactions between community members.
“This community today, we speak loud, we speak clear: cease gun fire now,” Johnson said. “Whatever the issues are, resolve them in a peaceful manner. Firing shots at our community put too many lives at stake.”
He also said no issue between people is serious enough to put community members’ lives at stake.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Herbert Burnett, Champaign business owner of Suits by Souljah, said he hoped to motivate peace.
“I challenge you to use the gifts that God has blessed you with to build instead of destroy. Cease fire now,” Burnett said.
Janice Mitchell, parent liaison for Urbana School District 116 and director of the Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center, expressed concern about the impact gun violence has on community youth and actions needed to ensure the safety of that youth. The community is working to inform children about what gun violence is and spreading literature on gun violence throughout the community, among other tasks, she said.
Council member Will Kyles, District 1, referenced economic development and unemployment as a way to tackle the challenges violence presents to the community.
“One of the things that we are going to do long term is work on the unemployment situation,” Kyles said. “Of course we can do the group talks and take the traditional route of having conversations and doing direct, one-on-one counseling with young men and women, boys and girls, but I think to get to the deep-rooted part of the issue, you have to deal with the economic piece.”
Kyles noted that the challenges before Champaign-Urbana are “nothing that we can’t curtail.”
Champaign Mayor Don Gerard stressed the benefits that the strengthening relationship among community police departments will have in preventing and combating violence.
“Campus Police, Urbana Police and Champaign Police have begun working together in the past year like they never have historically before, and I think that’s going to be really a huge help,” he said.
Since last Monday’s gathering, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the string of Champaign shootings.
Most recently, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force apprehended Champaign residents Qwantrell L. Ayres and Kevin I. Akins in connection with a shooting on the 1100 block of Mimosa Drive on June 7. The two were staying at a hotel in Indianapolis, Ind., where they were arrested on a charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm. The bond for their release was set at $1 million for each suspect.
On June 10, two separate Champaign men were arrested in connection with another incident, an alleged drive-by shooting incident that occurred at Fifth and Vine streets.
According to the police report, Kyantae Weatherall and Aaron Kirby were located in a house at the 300 block of East Hill Street after their vehicle, a Chevrolet Monte Carlo found at the 400 block of North Third Street, was consistent with information reported by the witnesses. Police said that they found a loaded handgun at the property.
Weatherall was arrested on the charges of aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Kirby was arrested on the charge of obstruction of justice, for his alleged attempt to conceal evidence believed to be connected to the shooting.
Champaign Police asks that anyone with information on the recent shootings call 217-351-4545. Tips can be submitted anonymously to 217-373-8477 (TIPS) or 373tips.com.
Audrey and Katie can be reached at [email protected].
