Man found guilty of attempted murder in shooting of elderly couple

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — One of three men charged in connection with the 2022 shooting of an elderly couple in Champaign has been found guilty of attempted murder.

Shamario Brown was found guilty on two counts of attempted first degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.

A hearing for any post-trial motions and sentencing is set for April 4 at 9 a.m. Brown is remanded to the custody of the Sheriff.

The charges stem from a shooting on Heritage Drive from September 2022.

A 76-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman were shot as they were pulling into a driveway.

After pulling into the driveway, two men approached a 76 and 75-year-old couple who were in their vehicle and opened fire. The individuals fled the area after the shooting in a vehicle driven by a third individual. Both victims were treated at a local hospital and later released.

Following an investigation, detectives determined that this was a case of mistaken identity and not a random act of violence. 24-year-old Shamario Brown from Champaign, 27-year-old Kenichi Townsend from Urbana, and a 41-year-old Champaign man were charged with multiple Class X felonies in relation to this incident, including Attempted Murder and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm.

Townsend and Mays were arrested on September 12, 2022, and Brown was apprehended later.

Townsend was convicted in May 2023 and sentenced to 80 years in prison.