by Bloomington Man Fatally Shot in Peoria: Marcus Whitehead Identified as Victim
In a tragic incident that occurred on Monday, a Bloomington man was fatally shot in Peoria. The victim has been identified as 18-year-old Marcus Whitehead, according to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood. Whitehead suffered multiple gunshot wounds and is believed to have died instantly.
The Peoria Police were alerted to the incident when they received a ShotSpotter alert at 5:04 p.m. on Monday. Officers quickly responded to the scene, located in the 2100 block of West Lincoln Ave. Upon arrival, they discovered Whitehead with an apparent gunshot wound. Despite attempts to save his life, he was pronounced deceased at the scene by Coroner Harwood at 5:49 p.m.
Further investigation by the Peoria Police Department revealed that the incident occurred during an attempted robbery. Two individuals had come to Peoria to purchase a vehicle listed on Facebook Marketplace. However, upon arriving at the designated meeting location, they were taken to an alleyway where several armed suspects attempted to rob them.
During the ensuing struggle, shots were fired by both the suspects and one of the robbery victims. One of the suspects was struck by gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene. The press release does not explicitly identify the deceased suspect as Whitehead. Interestingly, the robbery victim who fired a weapon is a legal gun owner with a license to carry from another state. As a result, they were released from custody without being charged.
The case is still under investigation and will be reviewed by the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office. In the meantime, officials are urging the public to exercise caution when engaging in online marketplace transactions. They recommend meeting in open and visible locations with nearby video recordings and suggest that the parking lot and lobby of the police department be used for this purpose.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Detective Miller at (309) 494-8397, Tip411, or Crime Stoppers at (309) 673-9000. The Peoria Police Department is counting on the community’s cooperation to help bring justice to Marcus Whitehead and ensure the safety of others in similar situations.
