Latest news with #UrbanaPolice
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Armed Urbana man arrested following road rage incident
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A 25-year-old Urbana man has been arrested after threatening someone with a firearm in a road rage incident. On Saturday, May 24, Urbana Police officers responded to a call involving an armed subject on N Cunningham Ave. following a road rage incident. The victim reported being threatened with a firearm by the offender. Coroner identifies body found in Rantoul's Heritage Lake During the investigation, the Urbana Police Department worked with the University of Illinois Police Department to utilize their automated license plate reader (ALPR) system. This system allowed Urbana Police to quickly identify a vehicle connected to the incident. Information found from the ALPR system was shared with nearby agencies, which led to the Rantoul Police Department locating the vehicle in the 200 block of W Frost Street. Urbana officers then met with Rantoul officers and identified the driver as a 25-year-old man from Urbana. Further investigation led Urbana detectives to obtain a search warrant, which then led to the recovery of a firearm. The offender was arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Mahomet is open for business': Village's next president wants to prioritize growth, safety
MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — 11 early voting locations opened across Champaign County on Monday with the General Election approaching on April 1. Many communities in Central Illinois will transition to new leadership. One of those places is in Mahomet, where voters will be asked who they want leading their village. Jason Tompkins, a current Board of Trustees member, is the only presidential candidate. In the fall, Sean Widener announced he wouldn't seek re-election. Tompkins said he's ready to take on the new position, and commercial development is a priority. 'If you've not visited Mahomet in a while, on the east side of town, it's absolutely primed to explode with commercial growth. I want to see that continue,' he said. 'We have to make that a priority.' Urbana Police, Crime Stoppers seeking tips on truck vandalism He feels it's one way to find a source of revenue to keep up with the growing population and school district. 'Our schools are busting at the seams. We need to make improvements, we need to expand,' he added. Besides economic growth, Tompkins said he plans to prioritize keeping the community safe and connected. He'll be sworn in at the next board meeting on April 29th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
2-month-old baby killed in multi-vehicle Urbana crash
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A two-month-old baby has passed away after Urbana Police said the baby, two siblings and their mother were involved in a multi-vehicle crash at Philo Road and Colorado Avenue Thursday night. WCIA previously reported on the crash shortly after it happened. At that time, Urbana Police said there were three vehicles involved and no major injuries. But Friday afternoon, police announced a fourth car was involved and a fatality had occurred. Police said the investigation revealed that a GMC Envoy driven by a Champaign resident was driving east on Colorado when the driver failed to stop at the intersection. The GMC clipped a Subaru Outback, which was driving north and turning west at the intersection. Tolono house fire reignites Friday morning A Chrysler Pacifica, driven by a mother with her three children as passengers, was also heading north. After hitting the Subaru, police said the GMC directly impacted the Pacifica in the middle of the van's driver-side sliding door. The two-month-old infant was seriously injured by this impact, officials said. The GMC ended up flipping over and slid into a Chevrolet Equinox that was driving west toward the intersection. All four of the people inside the Pacifica — a mother and her three children — were transported to Carle Hospital. The mother and her two oldest children were treated and released, but the infant was transferred to the St. Louis Children's Hospital, where they later died. The Office of the Medical Examiner for the City of St. Louis is investigating the manner of the infant's death. UPDATE: All lanes on US-45 in Pesotum back open Urbana Police added that the driver of the GMC was also transported to Carle and so far, they've been issued two tickets — one for disobeying a stop sign and one for driving without insurance. The investigation into the deadly crash is being conducted by the Urbana Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division. Anyone with additional information about the crash is asked to contact Urbana Police at 217-384-2320 or Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Police asking for help to ID suspects in Urbana murder investigation
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The investigation into an Urbana teenager's murder has revealed two suspects and a person of interest, Urbana Police officials announced. They're now asking for help from the public through Crime Stoppers to identify them. On Feb. 7, 18-year-old Sherman McCraney was shot in the area of Vawter and Silver Streets and later died at Carle Hospital. 'There aren't many words to describe it'; Urbana grapples with three killed in two days Officials last provided an update on the investigation during a news conference a week later, as they addressed both McCraney's murder and the murder of 7-year-old DJ Wicks 24 hours later. Officials could not provide many details on McCraney's murder; they confirmed a gun was found near McCraney but couldn't say what role it played in the shooting. Urbana Police said investigators were still following leads. Now, those leads have found two suspects in the shooting and revealed they briefly talked to a third person before the shooting and before they left the area. The two suspects are Black males — one is average height with a 'stocky' build and the other is tall with a thin build. The person they talked to was described as wearing a tan jacket and black pants. 'Change is long overdue': Urbana Police Chief calls for end to gun violence in the community Any home or business owner with property in the area of Vawter and Silver Streets is asked to check their exterior surveillance cameras, and if they have any, and review their footage from around the time of the shooting — 8 p.m. on Feb. 7. If anyone sees suspicious people or vehicles, they should contact Champaign County Crime Stoppers to submit their knowledge. Tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 217-373-8477, visiting their website or using the P3 Tips app. All tips to Crime Stoppers are both anonymous and eligible for a cash reward ($5,000 in homicide cases) if they lead to an arrest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Change is long overdue': Urbana Police Chief calls for end to gun violence in the community
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The Urbana Chief of Police is pleading for action — and asking for the community to support policy changes that could reduce gun violence after three people were killed in shootings over the weekend. In a letter addressed to the Urbana community Tuesday morning, Chief Larry Boone said that for months, the police department has collected data, spoken out and urged action to prevent firearm related deaths. But, despite their efforts, Boone said they were met with 'skepticism and accusations.' 'I know he's not coming back'; Family mourns for 7-year-old gun violence victim Boone said that when he introduced initiatives like gun mapping, which highlights the link between firearms and domestic violence, he was told he was 'instilling fear' or that he was 'exaggerating the problem.' Now, he said that those who dismissed these concerns must realize that the risk is real. Over the weekend, three people died in gun-related incidents. On Friday, 18-year-old Sherman McCraney Jr. was shot and killed. On Saturday, 7-year-old DJ Wicks and 43-year-old Melvin Braxton both died after a shooting incident. Boone said this tragedy could have been avoided, and that it serves as a reminder of the domestic violence crisis Urbana is facing. He said the community cannot wait to act until another tragedy strikes, and that gathering data now would help the police identify patterns and implement solutions that can save lives. SEE ALSO: Urbana Police address staff retention issues, surveillance tech Boone said there is a need for policy changes, better protections for survivors and a review of how they respond to domestic violence and firearm access. He also said the community needs to support initiatives in place, work to improve them and build a better community for all. In my 30-plus-year career, I have witnessed—directly or indirectly—the loss of nearly 1,000 African American lives to gun violence. As an African American police chief, and as someone who grew up in a community where violence was all too common, I understand the pain behind these tragedies. However, I am no longer moved by the familiar refrain of 'Now is not the time,' because the time for change is long overdue. Chief Larry Boone On behalf of the police department, Boone extended condolences to the families affected by the violence. 'We stand with you in grief, and we remain committed to doing the work necessary to prevent further loss,' Boone said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
