07-02-2025
Peoria teen, accused of shooting 9-year-old boy, appears in court and ordered held
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A 15-year-old who is accused of shooting a 9-year-old last week was wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet that helped police crack the case.
The boy, whose case is being heard in the juvenile division of Peoria County Circuit Court, appeared on charges of attempted burglary and aggravated battery with a firearm, charges that could keep him in prison until his 21st birthday.
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He appeared in court dressed in clothing of an inmate at the county's juvenile detention center. He said little except to answer the judge's questions.
Judge Vincent Cail ordered him held at the detention center pending an answer hearing later this month. The judge cited the nature of the crime — a young boy being shot — as well as the teen's prior cases which including illegal possession of a firearm, aggravated robbery, aggravated unlawful of weapons and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Because the case is in the juvenile division, WMBD will not print the boy's name or give out further court dates based upon court order.
The teen was the subject of an emotional press conference called by the city's top cop on Tuesday night who expressed outrage that a 9-year-old boy was shot while eating dinner. Police Chief Eric Echevarria praised his officers on the rapid arrest which came within 24 hours.
9-year-old boy recovering from gunshot wound to the chest; no arrests made yet
Two other juveniles have been arrested. Anna Perales of the State's Attorney's office said those cases are under review.
It appears surveillance footage and the electronic monitoring bracelet which the boy was wearing for a prior case are the keys to his arrest.
The boy had been charged last month with aggravated unlawful use of weapons and was free on pretrial release, but he was required to wear an ankle monitor. He had been held since Monday on allegations that he violated conditions of pretrial release by not being at home when he was supposed to be.
Also, the youth had two other pending cases in addition to the new one and last's month's weapons charge. He was to be sentenced this month on charges of possessing a stolen vehicle and for criminal trespass in two separate cases. He pleaded guilty late last year and was awaiting sentencing.
According to prosecutors, the boy and his family were at the home in the Riverwest Apartments, located in the 1200 block of Southwest Phoenix Drive when the mother heard noises outside.
She looked out and saw three people trying to break into her 2016 Kia Sorrento. Her boyfriend went outside to talk to them and the three would-be burglars ran off. Then she heard two or three shots.
Downstairs was her son, who said 'ow,' the prosecutor said. When she came downstairs, she saw he had been shot in the back and the bullet had gone out his chest. He was rushed to an area hospital where Echevarria said Tuesday night he was in stable condition with non life-threatening injuries.
Police looked at surveillance footage at the house and saw three. One of them was wearing a surgical mask, was short and appeared to have the bracelet on his ankle. That person, the footage showed firing a gun as he was running off, the prosecutor said.
Officers reached out to juvenile probation officers who said the only bracelet that was up and working in that area was the 15-year-old's. Using that, the officers followed him and the others around the area.
They were able to talk to him on Monday and he said he had been in the area but had only heard the shot, and did not admit to the shooting.
Officers also got surveillance footage at a nearby gas station which allegedly showed the teen buying some chips and pulling down his mask.
The judge, noting the boy's past record which included several juvenile cases and that he had two pending cases, opted to order him held in custody.
This story will be updated.
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