View a list of counties and date spans in Illinois Statewide Death Index . Date of Occurrence: February 15, 2006, at approximately 11:25 a.m. "Brendt Christensen" redirects here. Officers located Ms. Melchi inside her residence, with evidence suggesting that foul play was involved in her death. (The US average is 22.7) Champaign property crime is 42.3. The task of entering all Illinois deaths before 1916 is far from complete. Gun sales also soared during the pandemic, and 77 percent of the homicides last year were committed with a firearm. I just think the situations presented themselves during a pandemic, he said. Your chance of being a victim of murder in Champaign County may be as high as 1 in 9,135 in the central neighborhoods, or as . Christensen lured Zhang into his car at a bus stop on campus posing as a police officer with the promise of a ride after she missed a bus, but then took her to his apartment where he raped and murdered her while his wife was out of town for the weekend. The Champaign Police Department has made an arrest in a July 14, 2022, shooting death investigation, officially ruling it a Homicide. . Homicide numbers were at a 10-year high in Springfield, Decatur and Kankakee. Winter. On June 30, 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested and charged Christensen in federal court. ", "Defense Attorney: 'Brendt Christensen Killed Yingying Zhang', "The Chilling Murder of a Chinese Student on a US Campus, and Why Justice Is Elusive", "Grand jury indicts former U. of I. physics student in Chinese scholar's kidnapping", "Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences: College of ACES, University of Illinois", "FBI Investigates Chinese Woman's Disappearance as Kidnapping", "United States of America vs. Brendt A. Christensen, Jury Trial (Volume 8A)", "MTD: It's wrong to blame bus driver who didn't stop for scholar", United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, "Surveillance Video of Missing Student Yingying Zhang", "FBI offers up to $10,000 reward for info leading to missing scholar", "Chinese UI students helping with search for missing countrywoman", "Missing student's family arrives in US, FBI offers reward- World Chinadaily.com.cn", "Updated: Separate $40,000 reward announced in case of missing UI scholar", "Missing UI scholar's family 'will not leave without her', "Missing UI scholar's family appeals to Trump for help finding her", "FBI investigating possible sightings of missing Illinois student", "Salem Police Say Asian Woman Seen In Salem Last Month Wasn't Missing Kidnap Victim", "University of Illinois increasing security on campus following kidnapping", "One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Commencement", "Christensen's ex-wife testifies about marital issues", "Prosecutor: Suspect in Chinese student's kidnapping discussed 'ideal victim', "Bail denied for suspect in kidnapping of U of I scholar", "Brendt Christensen, accused killer of Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying, laughed about how he 'chopped her head off', girlfriend says", "Zhang Yingying killed more details exposed! Champaign Police contacted the father of the reported missing juvenile, who informed police the juvenile left the familys residence at approximately 5 p.m. . Two women were found shot in St. Joseph Township, leading to the arrest of 28-year-old . . [2][29], At a court hearing on July 5, U.S. Magistrate Eric I. A 21-year-old Champaign man was shot and killed early Sunday in north Champaign. The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. The victim, identified as Gerryontae Brown, did not survive his injuries. Champaign violent crime is 37.9. Taylor had just exited a cab and was walking away when he was struck from behind and battered by an unknown suspect who took his wallet and fled. Attempts were made to contact the missing [], On July 23, 2021, at approximately 4:56 p.m., Champaign Police responded to the 3000 Block of Edward Hoffman Drive for the report of shots fired. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign relies on a number of people to not only comply with the act, but also go beyond federal mandates in providing students, faculty and staff with information about public safety issues on campus. On July 14, 2022, at approximately 5:14 a.m., Champaign Police responded to the 400 block of E. Beardsley Avenue for a report of a shooting with injury. He sent the pants to the Illinois State Police lab and they confirmed that it (came from) Keonte Campbell, said Newell, calling that just one significant piece of evidence that enabled police to link him to the shooting. 1 dead after single vehicle crash in Champaign County. Seems like theres a curse in this town, seems like theres a dark cloud, Hoff told WCIA 3 Thursday. Location of Occurrence: 700 block of Hickory St., Champaign Date of Occurrence: December 18, 2004, at approximately 4:42 a.m. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)- The number of people murdered in the City of Champaign reached an all-time high in 2021. [14] The university's large Chinese student population helped coordinate search efforts on and around campus. Date/Time of Occurrence: approx December 22 December 24, 1991 Jawed Karim. Miller was arrested in the 1100 block of North James Street, Champaign. The rate of murder in Champaign is 0.06 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. [21][22], The university announced that they planned to install additional, high-definition, security cameras throughout the campus. Of those, Reitz says 24 cases have been charged. [A text description of this figure is . Peaceful Views. [34][35] Christensen pled not guilty at his arraignment on July 20, 2017. Partly cloudy skies. If your loved ones picture does not appear on this page, please email us at, IACP and NAACP Shared Principles Agreement, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request, Citizen Review of Police Complaints Working Group, Charges Filed in October 24, 2021, Shooting Investigation, City Staff Attend Library Community Job Fair, Charges Filed in January 3, 2023, Shooting Investigation. Communication or a physical encounter is not something they wish to partake in, he theorized. Low 32F. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217- 373-8477 (TIPS); online at, Suspect in Homicide Investigation Surrenders to Police. Location of Occurrence: 900 Block of N. Third St., Champaign. Partly cloudy skies. What a game', 'Craziness' of Illini helps secure double overtime win, Editorial | White Castle ruling leaves bad taste in business community's mouth, New Illini-centered name, image, likeness collective targets big-dollar donations, Man charged in connection with 35 pounds of cannabis in his home. Gacy assaulted and murdered at least 33 boys and young men in Chicago. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Dan Morgan, of the Urbana Police Department, is hopeful that new DNA evidence will lead to the person who killed 21-year-old University of . Date of Occurrence: November 13, 2020, at approximately 3:22 p.m. Four individuals were identified as sustaining gunshot wounds and were treated at area hospitals. Low 32F. [11], Zhang then walked to another bus stop a few blocks away at the corner of North Goodwin Avenue and West Clark Street, directly in front of the university's PBS radio and television station, WILL. In 2020, 57 were shot, and 34 in 2019. [2], On June 15, local police and FBI investigators questioned Christensen and executed a search warrant for his car. The Champaign County Coroner's office identified the victim as 14-year-old Steven Butler III. One of these vehicles was registered to Brendt Allen Christensen, a Champaign resident. The answer is uniformly that they feel the need to defend themselves. Anyone with information related to the shooting is encouragedto call Champaign Police at 217-351- 4545. Location of Occurrence: 400 block of West Vine St., Champaign. Surveillance video cameras showed that a black Saturn Astra passed by her at 2:00p.m. as she waited at the bus stop, and then circled back around and stopped where she was waiting at 2:03p.m.[2][12][13] She spoke to the driver for approximately one minute, and then entered the car. Sometimes people have been as brazen as to, you know, mark their location and challenge somebody.. [39][4] During sentencing deliberations, the jury could not unanimously agree to sentence Christensen to death. Its led by the Champaign Police Department but includes members from the Urbana Police Department, the University of Illinois Police Department and the Champaign County Sheriffs Office. Maywood Source: Wikipedia User Boscophotos | CC BY-SA 3.0 Overall SnackAbility 5 /10 Population: 23,277 Some parts 2023 Advameg, Inc. Crime rate in Champaign, Illinois (IL): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map. in our local parks & preserves. Date of Occurrence: July 9, 2000, approximately 12:38 a.m. Confirmed shootings, homicides: 2020 2019. Evidence suggests that Mr. Simmons death was a homicide, and is believed to have occurred within a 24-hour period of him being found. Description: Officers discovered Mr. Hopkins inside of a private residence with a fatal gunshot wound. But criminologists noted that nationally, not all violent crimes increased, and property crime the most common type of crime actually decreased by 8 percent. Crime rate in Urbana, IL The 2019 crime rate in Urbana, IL is 233 (City-Data.com crime index), which is about the average for the U.S. cities. RANTOUL - Mary Jane Bryan, 92, of Rantoul passed away Sunday (Feb. 19, 2023). [18] On July 14 the reward was increased to $50,000. Illinois crime rates, Illinois crime stats, Illinois crime report, FBI Uniform Crime Reports Illinois Crime Rates 1960 to 2019 Illinois Crime Rates 1960 - 2019 The data in the crime reports is derived from the annual Uniform Crime Reports issued by the FBI until 2020, at which time the FBI Willy-Ann Hoff is a staple at C-U non-profit HV Neighborhood Transformation these days. [], On July 1, 2020, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Champaign Police were called to the 100 Block of North State Street for the report of a robbery. [12] Christensen's girlfriend was approached by FBI investigators and agreed to wear a wire, thinking that it would exonerate Christensen if he had not committed the crime. According to reports, while outside, a Black male, over 6 ft in height, wearing a red puffy coat approached Thomas and his wife, demanding money. When he came around family, he would always put a smile on his face and just kissy, kissy, just loving type of son, he reminisced. Officer Tatman was pronounced deceased on the scene from an apparent gunshot wound. Darker colors represent the lowest and highest rates of diabetes prevalence in Illinois. [2][28] Concurrent with this questioning, agents at Christensen's apartment sought and obtained written permission from another occupant of the residence for search and seizure of items at the residence. [5] In 2016, she received a master's degree from Peking University. Urbana man charged with murder in 2019 shooting in west Champaign, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 19; 3 still missing, Trump pitches a sequel, but shies away from attacking rivals, China sets this year's economic growth target at 'around 5%', Can't take statins? Judge Roger Webber said surveillance video from the area where Darin Mitchell, 48, of Champaign, was shot on Aug. 23 . Agents took possession of computers and a cellphone belonging to Christensen, and subsequently sought and obtained a federal search warrant for a forensic examination of the phone. Larry Leon McNelly, 59, 9/10/2019 Tamms, Alexander County, IL - missing, found murdered: unsolved. Danville averaged a murder each month in 2020, giving the city the seventh highest murder rate in the state. Steve Chen. Oct. 8: Martin Morrow, 29, of Urbana, shot multiple times in the middle of West William Street near Duncan Road; no arrests. Foul play is suspected. East St. Louis Source: Public domain Overall SnackAbility 3 /10 Population: 26,277 Rank Last Year: 68 Murders: 36 (2nd Most) Murders Per 100k: 137.0 (Most) More on East St. Louis: Data | Photos 2. Low 32F. [2][10][24][25] Christensen married in March 2011, and started graduate school in 2013. She arrived in the United States in April 2017 to conduct research on photosynthesis and crop productivity for one year[7] in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences,[8] within the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES), at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This week, the man accused of raping and murdering Wesselman was sentenced to 80 years in prison. On May 5, 2019, at approximately 1:49 a.m., Champaign Police responded to an apartment complex parking lot in the 400 block of Edgebrook Dr. following reports of a shooting. Bob . Three At-Large Champaign City Council Seats Attract Eight Candidates In April 2nd Election; Danville's Four Mayoral Candidates Present Cases For Fighting Crime, Boosting Economy; Election 2019: Community Questionnaires Answered By Central Illinois Candidates; Election 2019: Champaign Mayoral Candidate Cobbs Says, "We Need To Lift Everybody . The day after he killed Zhang, Christensen claimed he put Zhang's dismembered body in three separate garbage bags which he then disposed of in the dumpster outside of his apartment. We take a look at eight of the most famous homicides in the history of Illinois. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Almost weekly, young men charged with illegally possessing guns are asked in court why they have guns. Date of Occurrence: September 19, 1997, at approximately 1:40p.m. While Mount Vernon takes the cake for most dangerous city statewide overall, there's nowhere more violent in Illinois than Danville. What a game. CPD Detectives are dedicated to investigating every lead possible to help bring justice to individuals, families, and to our community when it is impacted by crime and violence. [10] After picking up Zhang later that morning and taking her back to his apartment, Christensen choked, raped, and stabbed her in his bedroom before dragging her to his bathroom where he beat her with a baseball bat and decapitated her. Listen Now MURDERED: Tracy Kirkpatrick When 17-year-old Tracy Kirkpatrick is found murdered in March 1989, investigators struggle to find any evidence pointing to who killed her. Upon arrival, officers located a 26-year-old male suffering from a single life-threatening gunshot wound to the chest. Dinner is included and a cash bar will be available. Additionally, Christensen was recorded saying that Zhang had resisted and fought with him, and he was also recorded threatening someone who then provided incriminating evidence to authorities. You have permission to edit this article. THE TWO POPES (2019) May 31, 2023. Thats why you have an isolated shooting on a side street because somebody has shared your location, Griffet said. Tommy O'Connor. [6] Zhang was a visiting scholar in the Chinese Academy of Sciences[3] before travelling to the United States. 17 people, including teenagers, lost their lives. A 21-year-old Champaign man was shot and killed early Sunday in north Champaign, the second homicide of 2019 in that city. I said, Okay, I love you,' Hoff shared. Police will arrange to speak privately with you. The previous high was four. Description: Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of E. Roper for a reported armed home invasion. As for the pandemic being a reason for the increased killings, Griffet isnt convinced. November 8, 2019. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. July 27: Richard J. Wright, 23, of Champaign; died from stabbing about 3 a.m. at 1404 Silver Street; no arrests. Biden defends Afghanistan exit, Newsfeed Now: Last US troops leave Afghanistan; Man, Newsfeed Now: US racing to finish Afghanistan withdrawal;, Newsfeed Now: The nation mourns after US service, Celebrating Central Illinois: First Responders, Fallen officer Chris Oberheims partner opens up, Plans move forward for Urbana solar farm that could, Champaign community raises $25,000 and counting for, Champaign Co. deputys passion to serve stronger, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [19] Zhang's family said they would not leave the country until she was found. Ann L. Gibson, PhD, FACSM, is an associate professor and researcher in exercise science at the University of New Mexico, with research interests in body composition and physiological responses to exercise. [9] She was considering entering a doctoral program at the University of Illinois. Compare Champaign crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. The CDC tracks murders by analyzing information contained in death . Location of Occurrence: 200 block of E. Springfield Ave., Champaign. The findings align with a separate tabulation of the nation's murder rate published in September by the FBI.. UPDATE: Tornado watch issued until 3 p.m. Roselle man in custody in 2021 shooting of North Prospect Avenue motorist, Good Morning, Illini Nation: Big Ten standings update, Epps 'doing better' after hospitalization, Bob's buzzer beaters | 'What a game. Description: Officers were dispatched to assist Champaign Fire for a report of a deceased subject. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021. When the car they were in was ultimately stopped, police found an AR-15 assault rifle, two handguns and a drum magazine that can hold 50 to 100 bullets. As is the case in much of the country, criminal violence is becoming more common in Danville. Feb. 23: Tenesha Jenkins, 34, beaten and smothered in her home in the 2200 block of Dale Drive, Champaign; Antoine Craig,38, of Champaign, awaiting trial for murder.