Peoria, IL – A 20-year-old man was found fatally shot early Friday morning in Peoria, prompting an ongoing homicide investigation that has now led to two arrests, according to local authorities.
According to the Peoria Police Department, officers responded around 2:41 a.m. Friday to the 300 block of S. MacArthur Highway after a report of a vehicle crash. At the scene, police located a vehicle that had struck a tree at MLK Park. Inside the vehicle, an adult male was found with a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel. His identity will be released by the Peoria County Coroner.
While officers were on site, a second shooting victim—a 19-year-old man—was reported to have arrived at a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the hand.
Police determined the vehicle had sustained multiple bullet holes before the crash, suggesting a drive-by shooting or similar incident. As detectives processed the scene and interviewed witnesses, they identified a suspect, 20-year-old Christopher P. Adams. He was taken into custody without incident around 9 a.m. Friday in the 200 block of SW Adams Street and later charged with First Degree Murder.
On Monday, June 23, detectives identified a second suspect in connection with the case—18-year-old Kemareon D. Bell. Bell was arrested at approximately 5:47 p.m. Monday in the 1000 block of W. Wilcox. He was also charged with First Degree Murder and transported to the Peoria County Jail.
The investigation remains active. Both Adams and Bell are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact Detective Scott Hulse at (309) 494-8391 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (309) 673-4521 or Tip411.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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