Man killed in west Decatur shooting identified

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The man killed in a shooting in west Decatur Friday morning has been identified.

The Decatur Police Department said it happened just before 11 a.m. near the 1100 block of West Marietta Street on Friday, January 9.

Officers at the scene found a 27-year-old man, identified by the Macon County Coroner as Cornelius S. Smith, shot. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Decatur police stated that shortly after the shooting, 26-year-old Keishaun Thomas had gone to DPD headquarters with a family member to admit to shooting Smith.

Keishaun Thomas mugshot (Macon County Jail)
Photo from Macon County Jail

Thomas also admitted that he shot at another person, who was uninjured. DPD added that Thomas turned over the gun believed to have been used in the shooting.

Thomas was eventually arrested and charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm for shooting at the second person. He was booked in the Macon County Jail.

In a sworn statement, police said that Thomas claimed he was picking up his child moments before the shooting when a fight broke out with Smith.

The document stated that a witness who saw the fight had tried to break it up. Thomas admitted to shooting at that witness, who was not hurt, and claimed the witness had beaten him during the fight. According to the sworn, the witness was unarmed.

Thomas had a valid FOID card and concealed carry license.

The relationship between the three involved is unclear.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Anyone with information can contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 217-424-2734 or contact Decatur & Macon County Crime Stoppers at 217-423-8477.

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