DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — A man who admitted to shooting someone in Decatur in early January was charged with first degree murder Thursday.
26-year-old Keishaun Thomas was arrested on January 9 after admitting to shooting 27-year-old Cornelius S. Smith.
According to the Decatur Police Department, it happened near the intersection of West Marietta Street and North University Avenue. Officers responded just before 11 a.m. and found Smith, who had been shot.
Smith was taken to the hospital, where he died.
Shortly after the shooting, Decatur police said Thomas went to DPD headquarters with a family member to admit to shooting Smith.
Thomas also admitted to shooting at another person, who was not hurt. DPD added that Thomas turned over the gun believed to have been used in the shooting.
Thomas was arrested and initially charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm for shooting at the second person. After further investigation, DPD detectives charged Thomas on Thursday with first degree murder for the death of Smith.
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 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. He has remained in custody at the Macon County Jail since his arrest.
The incident is still under investigation.
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