The Urbana Police Department announced another shooting death this morning, making a total of three such homicides in just over six weeks.
According to Lt. David Smysor, this morning’s incident was a result of fighting “between a group of people who were familiar with each other.” The fight resulted in a 33 year old man being shot multiple times in the chest and legs in a parking lot near 1400 Ivanhoe Way. The man was pronounced dead at Carle Hospital. Officers collected approximately 2 dozen shell casings of three different calibers at the scene, which would suggest there were at least three different shooters.
According to Urbana Police Chief Bryant Seraphin, shooting incidents in Urbana have more than doubled in 2021. He noted that there were 53 shooting incidents in 2020, compared to 80 in 2021 as of September 8th. Over the past few months various law enforcement officials in the Champaign Urbana area have also made a point of noting that in addition to the increase in rate of occurrence, the number of shots fired at each incident is far higher this year.
Short summaries and UPD press releases for the most recent three shooting homicides in Urbana are given below (click on the date to open the UPD press release). All three are still under investigation and UPD has not yet announced any arrests or identified persons of interest:
July 29, 2021 – 306 West Main Street, Urbana: Victim shot at liquor store, over 50 shell casings of various calibers, victim pronounced dead at Carle ER several hours later.
August 3, 2021 – 1204 West Church Street, Urbana: Multiple victims shot inside home through windows by 3 shooters, over 60 bullet holes in residence, one victim died on scene, another victim treated at hospital for serious wounds, and 2 other victims with less severe wounds.
September 11, 2021 – 1400 Ivanhoe Way, Urbana: Victim shot in parking lot, 2 dozen casings of 3 different calibers located, victim pronounced dead at hospital.