Springfield, Illinois – The Springfield Park District arrested a man after he was accused of shooting at a DoorDash driver who was taking a break at Bergen Park, located at 2900 E. Clear Lake Avenue.

On December 27, 2023, around 8:32 p.m., Springfield Park Police Sergeant Jason Morrison was dispatched to Bergen Park for a person with a weapon. The suspect, who was later identified as Mark L. Weems, 28 years old, was described as a tall, thin black male wearing a black ski mask and a black hooded sweatshirt with white lettering on the front. The suspect had allegedly broken the caller’s window and fled towards Casey’s gas station.

Sgt. Morrison met with the victim at Caseys, and the victim stated that he was parked in the southeast area of the golf course parking lot eating his food while taking a break from door dashing. The victim stated that an unknown black male, identified as Mark L. Weems, approached the passenger side of his vehicle and attempted to open the door while yelling for the victim to open it. The victim said he yelled back, “no.” The victim said Weems then walked to his driver’s door, attempted to open it, and then pulled a pistol from his pocket, tapping on the glass of the driver’s door and yelling for him to open it again. The victim again refused to open the door. The victim said Weems then walked to the rear of his vehicle and broke out his rear window. The victim stated that’s when he put his vehicle in reverse and backed up to get away from the area. However, the victim believes that he may have also hit Weems while backing up and that Weems had shot out his window.

According to Sgt. Morrison’s observation, he looked at the damage to the vehicle and reported that he saw a tear/hole in the middle headrest of the victim’s vehicle, although he couldn’t find any shell casings in the cargo area of the vehicle.

Officers with the Springfield Police Department also assisted with the call and located the initial scene at the park and recovered shell casings and live rounds.

Sgt. Morrison said while he was speaking with the victim, Springfield Police Officer Vaughan had located a male (Weems) matching the description at Dirksen and Linden. Weems also had on him a .22 caliber pistol in his right front pocket, which was loaded with a round in the chamber. The victim was taken to Officer Vaughan’s location for a show-up identification, and the victim identified Weems as the suspect who attempted to enter his car and shot at his back window.

Weems was then transferred to the custody of Sgt. Morrison, but was advised by Officer Vaughan that Weems made a spontaneous utterance that he was in the park and had been in an altercation. Weems was not cooperative in giving his name and would only say that it was MJ Weems and that he was a junior. Weems ultimately provided Sgt. Morrison with his full name and date of birth, and Sgt. Morrison read him his Miranda Rights. Weems agreed to speak with Sgt. Morrison and stated that he had left his house on E. Enos Ave. to go for a walk. Weems stated that he encountered the victim at the park, and the victim began yelling at him from his vehicle. The victim got out of his vehicle and began yelling and “talking shit” to him. Weems then stated the victim began grabbing at his pockets, and at that time Weems retrieved his .22 caliber pistol from his pocket and fired one round into the victim’s rear window. Weems then stated that the victim ran him over with his car and left the park. Sgt. Morrison said Weems then stopped explaining the events that occurred and began asking questions about bond, release, and how many and what charges he got.

Weems was taken to the Sangamon County Jail, where, according to Sangamon County Corrections Officers, they found a live .22 caliber round in Weems’ pocket. Weems was ultimately turned away from the jail after staff advised that Weems would need a medical evaluation due to him being struck by a vehicle. Weems was taken to St. John’s hospital for evaluation and was medically cleared and ultimately booked into the Sangamon County Jail.

Weems was charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a class 1 felony, and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, a class 4 felony. Weems was granted pre-trial release and was released from the Sangamon County Jail. A Sangamon County Judge also issued a temporary order for Weems to have no contact with the victim.

The following items were also booked into evidence:

• Two .22 caliber spent shell casings located at Bergen Park
• A written statement from the victim
• Two live .22 caliber rounds located at Bergen Park
• One live .22 caliber round located in Weems pocket
• Rear center headrest from rear seat with tear/hole with possible .22 caliber round in headrest
• Pistol
• Ski Mask
• Magazine and rounds

Springfield, Illinois – On January 6, 2024 at 10:46 a.m., a Springfield Police officer informed dispatch that she had received a call about an elderly male with a camo jacket jumping out in front of cars at the Shamrock Motel, located at 928 N. Dirksen Parkway in Springfield, Illinois.

Springfield Police Officer Kyle Duval responded to the call to check on the man’s welfare. While inspecting the area around the Shamrock, he reported noticing a male walking across the roadway and stopping in multiple lanes. Officer Duval noted that it was light traffic and it appeared that the man was entering lanes occupied by vehicles and wouldn’t cross the road. The man was later identified as Darryl Fox, age 70.

Officer Duval, who had approached Fox on foot in the parking lot of Best Rest Inn at 700 N. Dirksen, engaged in a conversation with him. During their interaction, Officer Duval asked Fox about his well-being. Initially, Fox claimed he was okay, but later admitted to having no place to stay. The motel management, also present in the parking lot, requested Fox to come into the office to pay for his room.

As Fox entered the office with a handful of cash, Officer Duval opened the door to follow him. At that time, Fox turned towards Officer Duval and grabbed his taser. In response, Officer Duval recounted, “I pushed him backward with an open hand on his shoulder, and he pulled back with the Taser in both hands. I quickly turned him towards the south wall and applied pressure against him to hold him in place as I took control of his left wrist where the Taser was not controlled. He appeared to be manipulating it with his hands.” Officer Duval successfully removed the Taser from Fox’s grip and called for additional officers.

While waiting for backup, Officer Duval told Fox to place his hands behind his back. However, Fox, who was shouting, refused. As Officer Duval was placing handcuffs on Fox, he reported that Fox continued to tense up and pull away. At that time, Officer Duval said he pulled him to the ground where they ended up in the doorway of a small office. Once Fox was handcuffed, he was searched, and officers found his wallet and $585 in cash. It was also noted that Fox had an abrasion to the left side of his forehead, which Officer Duval said he wasn’t sure if it was from his head landing on the door or ground. Fox told the officer that he was trying to kill himself and that he was having issues with his medication. “He advised he took the Taser in an attempt to kill himself and did not mean any harm to anyone or myself. He stated multiple times he just wanted to die. He continued to repeat himself, advising again he took the Taser because he wanted to die.”

The manager of the Inn also provided police with $300 and advised that he wanted to return the money to Fox and was refusing him to stay out of safety concern. Fox was taken to Memorial by ambulance for a mental health evaluation. Officer Duval filled out an involuntary petition and waited at the hospital to see if Fox would be admitted. He explained Fox’s statements and actions to the Psychiatric Response Team (PRT), who evaluated Fox and then referred him to SIU. However, Officer Duval reported that SIU refused to place him.

Fox was released from the hospital and transported to the Sangamon County Jail. While en route to the jail, Officer Duval reported that Fox continued to repeat that he was going to do it again, get hit by a car and die when released.

Fox was charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with Disarming a Police Officer, a class 1 felony. A Sangamon County Judge denied him pre-trial release and ordered him to remain in custody until the conclusion of this case and also ordered a psychological evaluation.

Fox’s next court date is January 25, 2024.

Springfield, Illinois – Two men were arrested and charged in connection with a home invasion after being located.

According to the Springfield Police, they were dispatched on December 29, 2023, to the 1200 block of S. 13th St. for an active home invasion. When officers arrived, the suspects had already left in a tan pick-up truck. One of the victims at the scene had a large cut on the back of his head, resulting from being struck multiple times with a pistol. He was then transported to Memorial Medical Center for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

A description of the vehicle was provided, and two of the three suspects were identified as Victor T. Bobo, age 49, and Manuel Rios, age 56. The suspect vehicle was later found at Circle K near 19th and North Grand, occupied by Bobo and the vehicle owner, Rios.

According to the victim, who was interviewed by detectives, a friend known as Manuel had come to his residence and told him he was kicked out of his house. As they were speaking on the front porch, two subjects approached them, and one of them had a pistol. The victim said he got into a wrestling match with the armed man on the front porch. The second suspect, whom the victim identified as Bobo, had entered the house and taken the phone from a woman who had called 911. When 911 called the phone back, Bobo took the phone and claimed they did not need help.

The victim continued in his statement, saying that Bobo told the woman to get on the ground, pulled her down, making her lay on her face, and it was believed that Bobo had a firearm. Bobo then removed the woman’s wallet from her purse and threw it on the living room floor. The report noted that the woman’s phone was taken and later found in the 1100 block of S. 13th St.

Rios left the porch, got into his truck, and the armed suspect, along with Bobo, fled the scene. The victim said Rios circled the block and picked up the other two suspects before fleeing the area.

According to the police, they were able to obtain video surveillance from the front porch, and it corroborated much of the victims’ statements. “It showed Rios speaking with the victim on the front porch. It appears Rios is looking to the corner of the residence, then moves as to draw the victims’ attention away from the two other suspects. Rios leaves the porch and walks towards his truck. It showed both suspects fighting with the victim and clearly shows the unidentified male carrying a firearm. He racks the slide of the firearm, which dislodged multiple bullets from the gun. The bullets were later recovered by officers on the scene. The unidentified male remains in the doorway of the residence, looking out the front door. Both Bobo and the unidentified suspects enter the home. Bobo pulls the victim by the arm into the home to prevent him from leaving the scene. Both suspects eventually flee northbound on foot from the residence.”

Detectives spoke with Bobo, and he admitted to being at the home invasion. He stated he was riding with Rios and another man that goes by the name “Charlie.” Bobo said Rios was going to the victim’s house to buy some cocaine. When they got to the house, Rios got out of the truck and went to the front porch, where he was speaking to the victim. While still in the truck, Charlie told him to come with him. That’s when they exited the truck and walked toward the house. Bobo told detectives that Charlie pulled out a gun and ran onto the porch. Bobo said he followed him and was told to handle the female in the house. Bobo, who was seen on camera holding what appears to be a female’s wallet, said that he had the wallet but did not get anything from it and threw it on the ground. Detectives reported that video confirmed that statement. Bobo said he went onto the porch where Charlie was on the ground struggling with the victim and tried to break them up. Detectives noted that Charlie can be seen on video striking the victim multiple times in the head with a gun.

At this time, Bobo and Rios were both arrested and taken to the Sangamon County Jail. They have both been charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with Armed Robbery, a class X felony, and Theft, a class 3 felony.

At the time of publishing, there were no updates on the other suspect Charlie.

Stay tuned for updates on this story.

Springfield, Illinois – Springfield Police Officers were dispatched on Christmas Eve around 4:33 a.m. to the 1600 block of Seven Pines Road for a disturbance.

Springfield Police Officers Taylor and Farris reported that once they were at the door of the apartment, they could hear arguing through the door. Officer Taylor wrote that a female opened the door and advised they were in the back. Once they were inside the residence, they could hear yelling between two people in a back room, with one stating, ‘Stop, the police are here.’ When Officer Taylor opened the bedroom door to the apartment, he noticed a male and a female pushing each other while an older female was attempting to get between the two.

The male, identified as Laquan Q. Sibley, age 24, was placed in handcuffs and reportedly continued to yell at the female, identified as Kenyatta J. Appleton, age 22.

Officers spoke with Kenyatta, who stated nothing happened, and she only wanted Laquan removed from the residence. When Kenyatta was asked about the incident in the room, she advised it was only verbal, and nothing physical happened.

Officers spoke with Kenyatta’s mother, who was in the room between Laquan and Kenyatta. She told officers that the two began arguing shortly after Kenyatta let Laquan into the residence. The fight started verbally, but then they began pushing each other and hitting each other with closed fists. She said she began to step in between the two when they became physical, and that’s when the police arrived.

Kenyatta was then placed in handcuffs and escorted out of the residence. Once outside, she told officers that Laquan punched her in the right side of her face, and her cheek is now swollen. When Kenyatta was asked to have a picture taken of her injuries, she refused.

Laquan was read his Miranda Rights and told officers that he did not hit her; they were only arguing.

According to officers, this is the second domestic violence case between Kenyatta and Laquan. They have one child in common and have been separated for 3 months but were in a dating relationship for approximately 3 years before they broke up.

Both were taken to the Sangamon County Jail and released without charges.

Springfield, Illinois – A former candidate of the Springfield Police Department has filed a federal lawsuit against the department, alleging false arrest, wrongful detention, and malicious prosecution by officers. Anne Reeves claims that on October 21, 2022, Springfield Police Officers Jake Gray and Antwion Fairlee arrived at her residence, read her Miranda Rights, briefly spoke to her, handcuffed her, and placed her in the back of a police vehicle unlawfully. (BODY CAMERA VIDEOS AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE)

According to Springfield Police Department reports from October 21, 2023, at around 5:53 p.m., Officers Jake Gray and Springfield Park District Police Officer Brian Crolly responded to a robbery at the intersection of Walnut and Edwards. They found a victim with a large cut on her face. The victim reported being picked up by Anne Reeves in a teal SUV, along with two others, identified as ‘Ms. B’ and her daughter. The victim alleged being attacked, pepper-sprayed, cut, and robbed during the incident.

In an attempt to locate Anne Reeves, officers searched local records, finding an address consistent with the victim’s statement. Springfield Police Officers Gray and Antwion Fairlee went to Anne’s address. According to Officer Gray’s report, they located a blue SUV, knocked on Anne’s door, and she answered. Anne quickly shut and locked the door, asking if she was in trouble. After Officer Gray assured her they only wanted to talk, Anne agreed to speak outside.

Officer Gray reported reading Anne her rights, and she stated understanding and willingness to talk. Anne claimed she and two others picked up the victim earlier in the SUV. Anne mentioned a disturbance in the parking lot of Westminster Presbyterian Church but denied any cutting or pepper spraying.

At this point, Anne stated that she was going to return to the residence, to which Officer Gray responded by informing her that she could not and that he would be detaining her in handcuffs. Officer Gray reported that Anne immediately raised her hands in the air and backed away, insisting that he could not detain her. He advised Anne that he would, indeed, detain her, grabbing her right arm to move her hand to her back. Anne tensed her arm, resisting the movement, prompting Officer Gray to instruct her not to resist. He proceeded to place Anne’s hand behind her back, but she pulled away, tucking her hands and arms close to her body.

Anne then urgently expressed her willingness to comply if allowed to sit down. Officer Fairlee and Officer Gray assisted Anne into a seated position, but she continued to tuck her arms towards her torso and pull away. Officer Fairlee eventually placed Anne on her stomach, where she tucked her arms underneath herself. Officer Gray warned Anne that she would be tased if she did not comply. After several warnings, Anne eventually stopped resisting.

Officer Gray secured Anne in handcuffs and placed her in the back of Officer Fairlee’s squad car. While escorting Anne to the vehicle, she continued to pull away and yell for her husband to come outside.

Officer Gray reported that he then spoke with Anne’s husband, Justin, who was also a candidate for the Springfield Police Department, to update him on the situation, noting that Justin seemed surprised. Officer Gray asked Justin for consent to search his vehicle for evidence of the robbery, such as pepper spray residue, blood, or a cutting instrument. Justin initially denied consent, but upon being informed that the vehicle would be towed for investigative purposes, he consented to the search. Officer Gray reported that the search didn’t find any evidence of the robbery.

Due to Anne being positively identified as the driver of the vehicle during the robbery, Anne’s address being consistent with the victim’s statements, Anne’s phone number being listed as the same number that the victim called her from, Anne stating under Miranda that she and two other subjects matching the description given by the victim were in her vehicle in the parking lot and involved in some kind of physical disturbance, and Anne resisting officers as they detained her, Officer Gray arrested Anne for armed robbery, aggravated battery, and resisting.

Anne was taken to Sangamon County Jail, where two days later, on October 23, 2022, she was given a bond. According to Anne’s attorneys, she was unable to post the bond and remained in the County Jail until the following day when the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office decided not to file charges, leading to her release from Sangamon County Jail. “There was no just cause to arrest Anne, continue to detain her, or charge her with violating any laws,” stated her attorney, Peter T. Sadelski, of Ed Fox & Associates, a law firm in Chicago, Illinois.”

Springfield Police Detectives were assigned to this case days later. Based on their investigative notes, they attempted to contact the victim numerous times to get her statement regarding the case, but were unsuccessful. Additionally, the Detectives noted in their investigative reports that the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office advised them that they had not filed charges and did not intend to pursue the case due to inconsistent information. Consequently, the case was closed.

However, the case didn’t stop there for Anne. On January 13, 2023, she withdrew her candidacy from the Springfield Police Department, and five months later, she filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Springfield and Springfield Police Officers Gray and Fairlee. The lawsuit is still pending.

We have been informed that there was an Internal Affairs investigation; however, the City of Springfield, which has lost numerous lawsuits for refusing to release internal affairs documents that are typically public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, continues to withhold them. Currently, we have appealed their decision to the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor and are awaiting a response.

(VIDEO ABOVE) A woman informed Springfield Police Officers that she had been robbed. Reeves, who was arrested after police alleged that she was the suspect, withdrew her candidacy. She then filed a federal lawsuit against the Springfield Police Department, alleging they unlawfully detained and arrested her.

(VIDEO ABOVE) Body Camera Video from Springfield Police Officer Jake Gray shows the arrest of Anne Reeves

(VIDEO ABOVE) Body Camera Video from Springfield Police Officer Antwion Fairlee shows the arrest of Anne Reeves

(VIDEO ABOVE) An additional Body Camera Video from an unknown Springfield Police Officer which shows the victim giving her statement to Springfield Police Officers

Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield woman was arrested for violating an order of protection by throwing a bottle with the top on fire into the yard of someone protected by the order. The bottle was later identified as a homemade Molotov cocktail. This incident occurred after she had already been charged with arson, marking the second time she was suspected in an arson case involving the same person.

Springfield Police Officers Walter and Bard were dispatched to the 2500 block of S 10th St., in reference to a violation of an order of protection.

Prior to officers’ arrival, Dispatch informed officers that the victim has a stalking no-contact order against Alena Nelson, aged 28. The order of protection was issued on August 25, 2022, and expires on August 22, 2024. The order was served to Alena on August 26, 2022. According to officers, Alena had violated the order of protection against her by driving past the residence numerous times.

On the victim’s security footage from her residence, Alena is observed driving a silver Dodge minivan. She circles the block a few times, then she drives the van into the victim’s driveway, striking her car that was sitting in the driveway. Alena backs out of the driveway and continues driving around the block. She returns to the residence and attempts to drive up into the driveway again. This time, the victim is standing outside of her residence with a baseball bat. As Alena drives near the victim, nearly striking her with the van, the victim swings the bat, striking the windows and breaking the glass of the minivan. After Alena gets out of the van and begins to grapple with the victim, officers report that there were “Many blows exchanged between them.”

Witnesses on the scene observed Alena circling the block numerous times, eventually entering the victim’s driveway and colliding with her car. After the victim came outside, Alena attempted to drive into the driveway for a second time. Witnesses on the scene observed the victim striking Alena’s van with the bat. After her vehicle was struck, Alena stepped out of the vehicle, and when she did, witnesses observed her throw a bottle with the top on fire into the yard as she got out of the van. Later, the bottle was identified as a homemade Molotov cocktail.

Officers report that when they arrived on the scene, they observed Alena and the victim grabbing handfuls of each other’s hair. “Both females were out in the street in front of the victim’s residence, Alena had the victim up against the van in the street,” the officers’ report read.

After the two were separated, Alena was arrested on-site for violating the stalking no-contact order and aggravated battery, etc. She was transported to Memorial Healthcare to have her hand and head x-rayed. Once cleared by hospital staff, she was transported to the Sangamon County Jail.

Officers recommended that she be charged with Aggravated Battery in a public place, a class 3 felony, Reckless Conduct using a vehicle, Aggravated Stalking – Bodily Harm, a Class 3 Felony, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Carry Tear Gas Bomb Etc, a class A misdemeanor. However, according to official records, she was charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with violating a no-stalking/contact order, a class A misdemeanor, and reckless conduct, a class A misdemeanor.

Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Robin Schmidt denied her pre-trial release and ordered that she remain in custody until the conclusion of the case.

Click here to view our previous article on Alena – Accused of a Second Fire: Springfield Woman Charged with Arson, Victim Had an Active Order of Protection

Springfield, Illinois – On December 19, 2023, around 5:36 a.m., Springfield Police were called to the 2000 block of Black Ave., in Springfield, Illinois, for a report of a stabbing. The female victim informed dispatch that her husband had stabbed her.

When officers arrived, they located Demond C. Jones, aged 48, walking out the back door of the residence. He stated that she fell on the knife.

The woman was found downstairs in the basement room, lying on the bed, bleeding from her upper right thigh. Approximately 3 feet away, a brown kitchen steak knife was found, appearing to have a fluid or residue on it.

The woman was transported to the hospital, where she told officers that Demond had stabbed her with a knife while in the basement. She stated that her husband stabbed her once in the thigh, then stood over her in bed, saying, “I told you I would kill you.” The woman informed officers that she couldn’t move due to the pain after being stabbed.

Before Demond was advised of his Miranda Rights, he claimed his wife had jumped up from the bed onto her knees while they were talking downstairs. He said she then fell down, and that is when she fell on the knife, resulting in the stab wound to her upper right thigh.

Demond told officers that he and his wife live at the residence and have been together for about 20 years. He has not had a domestic battery charge with her before.

Demond has been charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with Domestic Battery (making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with any family or household member), a class 2 felony. A Sangamon County Judge denied pre-trial release and ordered Demond to remain in custody until the conclusion of this case.

According to records, Demond was previously charged with threatening a public official in April. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 12 months probation.

Demond is expected to return to court on January 4, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

Springfield, Illinois – A local man has pleaded guilty after leaving the Family Guidance Center, a halfway house located at 120 N. 11th St. in Springfield, IL, and cutting off his ankle monitor at a Casey’s Gas Station.

On September 23, 2020, Brian S. Edwards, age 39, received a 46-month imprisonment sentence with 4 years of supervision for violating the terms of his Supervised Release. He initially faced charges on June 22, 2009, related to amphetamine, leading to a conviction and a 96-month imprisonment sentence with 4 years of supervised release.

On July 6, 2023, Edwards was transferred from the United States Penitentiary (USP) Pekin to the Family Guidance Center Residential Reentry Center at 120 N. 11th St., Springfield. The Family Guidance Center is a contracted Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility assisting individuals in adjusting to life outside of prison. Therefore, when Edwards entered the Family Guidance Center (FGC), this placement remained part of his BOP custodial sentence under BOP supervision.

On November 3, 2023, at approximately 6:00 p.m., staff at the Family Guidance Center observed Edwards, without authorization, running out of the building without shoes or socks, displaying erratic behavior after pacing around. The staff last saw Edwards getting into his Silver Ford Fusion and driving away.

On the same day, the Central District of Illinois U.S. Marshal Service Springfield Office received an escape notification from the Federal Bureau of Prisons for Brian S. Edwards.

Later on that day, state and local officers located Edwards’s vehicle in Greenview, IL, at the local Casey’s Gas Station around 7:58 p.m. Local officers interviewed clerks who stated that Edwards had entered the store and requested to use a pair of scissors. Once he had the scissors, Edwards bent over and cut off his GPS ankle monitor, leaving it in the store. State and local officers searched the area, arresting Edwards in Greenview, IL at around 10:27 p.m. Edwards was then transported to the Sangamon County Jail (BOP contract jail) due to violating the rules of the Family Guidance Center.

On December 11, 2023, Edwards pleaded guilty to a single federal charge of escape. Subsequently, he was released from Federal Bureau of Prisons custody and is currently awaiting sentencing

Spaulding, Illinois – William L. Cooper, aged 46, has been sentenced for shooting at police officers in Spaulding, Illinois. Cooper entered a guilty plea to a single and reduced charge of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a Class 1 felony, after initially facing charges of two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer (also a Class X felony) and a count of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, following allegations that Cooper drove through a metal gate directly at several responding officers.

He was arrested on Friday, August 20, 2021, after Sangamon County Central Dispatch received a call on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at 9:47 p.m., reporting a distressed male at 43 Devine Dr., Spaulding, believed to be William L. Cooper. The caller, not present at the residence, suggested a possible overdose. Riverton PD and Spaulding PD were the first to arrive, reporting shots fired, with no injuries.

Cooper fled the scene in a vehicle, later found unoccupied at Mary Lane and Francis Dr., Spaulding. Deputies established a perimeter, and Illinois State Police closed Route 54.

Attempts to communicate with Cooper by phone were unsuccessful, leading to a Facebook post by Cooper at some point. He was apprehended at 12:57 a.m. in the 5400 Block of River View Rd, Spaulding, Illinois.

Law enforcement reported finding at least 10 shell casings at the scene.

Following Cooper’s arraignment, he posted bond amounting to $100,000 (10 percent of his $1 million bond) and, upon release, was directed to comply with the following terms:

• GPS electronic monitoring
• Home confinement
• Psychiatric evaluation and adherence to all recommended treatment
• Surrender of all firearms and FOID Concealed Carry License

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell clarified at the time that there was no indication that Cooper was under the influence of any substances.

On December 14, 2023, Cooper, represented by Criminal Defense Attorney Dan Fultz, was sentenced to 36 months of probation and fined a total of $10,724.00. If he had been convicted on his original charges, he could have faced a sentence of 10-45 years and would have been required to serve 85% of his sentence.

Springfield, Illinois – According to a source close to Springfield Leaks, the Illinois State Police is investigating a possible murder-suicide that occurred on December 17th and December 18th. The suspect in the homicide is Nicholas Giberson, a 46-year-old man who worked as a guard at Logan Correctional Center. According to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon, Giberson died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Riverton, Illinois. Our source also confirms that the victim in the homicide is Nicole Pedigo, a 33-year-old woman from Olney, Illinois.

A spokesperson for the Illinois State Police declined to confirm on the record whether both of these incidents are linked, but provided the following information:

The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 is leading the open and ongoing investigation into a homicide occurring on December 17, 2023, in the 2400 block of E. Main Street in Olney. The victim is identified as 33-year-old Nicole Pedigo of Olney, IL. It is believed there are no safety concerns to the community regarding this incident. To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further information is being released at this time.

The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 4 is leading the open and ongoing death investigation in the 100 block of E. Menard Street in Riverton on December 18, 2023. The victim is identified as 46-year-old Nicholas Giberson of Riverton, IL. An autopsy was conducted on December 19, 2023, with results pending. It is believed there are no safety concerns to the community regarding this incident. To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further information is being released at this time.”

Reportedly, Pedigo and Giberson were involved in a dating relationship. Richland County Sheriff Andy Hires stated that the situation effectively concluded with Giberson’s death. He mentioned, “There is still a significant amount of investigation to be carried out on the backend of the case.” Hires added that Ms. Pedigo’s demise is a grievous tragedy for the community, given that she leaves behind two young children.

Springfield Leaks will provide more details as soon as they become available.