Champaign, IL – A man is recovering after being shot near Green and Fifth Streets early Saturday morning, Oct. 18, prompting a large police response from the University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD).
According to a UIPD statement, officers responded to reports of gunfire around 12:26 a.m. and arrived within about a minute to find a man suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim received medical aid at the scene before being transported to Carle Hospital, where he underwent surgery and remains under medical care.
Authorities said the shooting followed a verbal altercation involving multiple people, and preliminary evidence indicates the victim was struck amid the dispute. Police confirmed that neither the victim nor those involved are affiliated with the University of Illinois.
An Illini-Alert was issued shortly after 12:29 a.m., advising the public to avoid the Green Street area while officers and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit investigators collected evidence and reviewed nearby video footage. The suspect remains at large, and the investigation is ongoing.
UIPD emphasized that the shooting is not believed to pose an ongoing threat to the campus community but said officers will continue increased patrols in the area.
Anyone with information is urged to contact University Police at 217-333-1216 or reach Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477 (373-TIPS).
