Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
GALESBURG — A 17-year-old from Peoria died Wednesday following a gunshot wound, according to Galesburg police.
A Peoria man, 18, is now in custody, arrested on burglary and felony murder charges connected to the case, though he was not arrested on suspicion of being the trigger man.
After a call at 10:22 p.m., police responded to Galesburg Guns and Ammo on South Henderson Street on Wednesday in response to a disturbance there involving gunshots. When officers arrived, they determined that several suspects had broken into the business.
Police Chief Russ Idle said they used a large rock or cinder block to break in and that investigation has shown there were four or five individuals attempting the burglary.
According to police, the owner of the business was inside it during the break-in, and a preliminary investigation indicated that the business’s owner fired four to five shots at the suspects after they entered the gun shop.
The name of the store owner who fired the shots is not being released.
Police said that shortly after that, a vehicle pulled up to the emergency room of Cottage Hospital. A 17-year-old male was dropped off at the front door with a gunshot wound, and the others in the vehicle immediately drove away. Hospital staff provided medical aid to the teen, who later died from his injuries.
Galesburg police determined the vehicle used for the burglary belonged to Jakobe D. Brown, 18, of Peoria. He and his vehicle were located in Peoria and brought to Galesburg, where Brown was arrested and charged with burglary and felony murder. The latter charge doesn't accuse him in the killing itself.
"Under Illinois law, if a person commits a felony offense and during the commission of that offense someone dies, the person is responsible for that death. This is called 'felony murder,'" police Chief Russ Idle said.
Brown is in the Knox County Jail awaiting a court appearance. The police investigation is ongoing.