In June, Champaign saw a drastic increase in gun violence with 12 shooting incidents between June 7 and June 28, according to the Champaign Police Department. The latest of these shootings happened on June 23 by IHOP on the corner of Fourth and Green streets.
According to a press release by Champaign Police, these incidents resulted in eight shooting victims, and nine suspects were arrested for their involvement.
Champaign Police believe that these crimes may have been drug-related or retaliatory. In the course of their investigations, police say they have identified 38 individuals that were allegedly involved with gang members who worked together to commit these shootings and other crimes.
“We are troubled by the acts of violence occurring in our community, and ware grateful that no lives were lost in the crossfire,” said police Chief Anthony Cobb in a press release.
Police say they increased police presence in the areas most commonly called in for these incidents. They have also met with key members of the community to brainstorm ways of communicating anti-violence messages to the public.
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Police have also developed a network of social workers who can lend support to families and individuals impacted by gun violence and have also created the Champaign County African-American Safety Net, an awareness organization. Neighborhood groups have also been created to pass out information on gun violence and community safety.
“We are addressing these crimes by partnering with community agencies that provide services to high risk offenders and by increasing our presence in neighborhoods where the shootings have occurred,” Cobb said in the press release. “It will take both the community and police partnering together to stop this violence.”
The Champaign Police Department is collaborating with eight other agencies to address the issue including the FBI and the University Police Department.
“It’s a joint-operational process,” said Jeff Christensen, University Police chief. “Rest assured, we are doing everything we can. Even before the incident on campus, we’ve been working very hard to get this under control.”
Christensen advises students to always be alert when walking around at night and that if a student is out and see an altercation between people that they should avoid the altercation and call the police.
Kat can be reached at [email protected].
