HERVEY CITY, Ill. (WAND) - Tributes are starting to pour in for a man killed in a shooting in Hervey City. 

Gregory W. Hostetler of Dalton City was pronounced dead at the scene of Monday's shooting. He was 48.

Rt 121, Hervey City 5/13/2024

A Long Creek Fire Department truck leaving the scene at Route 121 in Hervey City on May 13, 2024.

Ed Forsythe, Executive Director of the Professional Towing and Recovery Operators of Illinois, told WAND News, "Greg was a member of the Professional Towing and Recovery Operators of Illinois for several years. During this time, we never received a complaint about him from the public or other towing companies, and from what we had heard he was well respected within the community. This tragedy only goes to show the loss of respect of life that is becoming more pronounced in our society." 

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According to Macon County Sheriff Jim Root, deputies responded to a shooting near Five Star Auto Sales on Monday afternoon. They located Hostetler and an 18-year-old gunshot victim in addition to the suspect who also had injuries.

The other victim and the suspect were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Hostetler and the victim, who own and work at Five Star Auto Sales and Greg’s Towing and Recovery, had towed a vehicle earlier in the morning. A man identified as 25-year-old Tiimon Perry went to the business to recover the vehicle.

Tiimon X. Perry

Tiimon X. Perry

A verbal altercation concerning the cost of the tow became physical, at which time Perry pulled a handgun and shot Hostetler in the head according to the sheriff.

The other victim was shot in the shoulder by Perry as he tried to wrestle the gun away. Once he had gotten free, he fired one round at Perry and struck him in the testicular area.

Sergeant Scott Flannery of the Macon County Sheriff's office described the events leading up to the shooting for WAND News on Tuesday, saying, "They had a call to recover a vehicle that had a flat tire, again some sort of tire issue. They took it back to their shop." Sgt. Flannery continued, "The individual, Mr. Perry, came to retrieve the vehicle and ultimately refused to pay the $50 towing fee, which was incurred when they towed the vehicle back to that location. There was a struggle a little bit over the keys. They weren't going to give him the keys back until the fee was paid. That's ultimately when it turned physical, and the gun was involved."

Perry remains in custody at the hospital. Once he recovers, he will be taken to the Macon County Jail for processing.

The victim was treated for his gunshot wound and released.

Perry has initially been charged with first degree murder and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He has previous warrants for vehicular invasion and is wanted by Decatur Police for vehicle invasion and aggravated fleeing and eluding.

Additional charges are likely pending.

An autopsy was performed for Hostetler on Tuesday. Results indicated he died due to a single gunshot wound to the head.

The Macon County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police are investigating.

A GoFundMe has been set up to support Hostetler's family. It has raised over $17,000 so far. 

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