Vehicle's passenger charged with first-degree murder in drive-by Peoria shooting
Kemareon D. Bell, 18, was officially charged with first-degree murder Wednesday for his alleged role in the death of Teron M. Scott Jr. in the 300 block of South MacArthur Parkway.
Assistant Peoria County State's Attorney Terry Muench said in a hearing that Christopher P. Adams — who is already being held on first-degree murder charges for his alleged role in the shooting — told police that while he was involved in the crash that led to Scott's death, he wasn't aware that other passengers, such as Bell, would have firearms with them.
More: Body has been recovered from the Illinois River in Pekin
The official charge filed with the court indicates that Bell was the one who fired the shots that killed Scott, saying that he knowingly discharged a firearm toward the vehicle, knowing that it created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm and thereby causing Scott's death.
Muench said during Wednesday's hearing that Peoria police responded to the scene at 2:45 a.m. Friday in response to a vehicle having crashed in the area. Officers arrived to find a sedan crashed into a tree at MLK Park, with Scott found in the rear driver's side seat with a gunshot wound to the head. The Peoria County Coroner's Office later said Scott died instantly.
A pair of other passengers remained at the scene and told police that they had paid for a ride in the sedan before the shooting occurred. While being driven, another sedan came up and began firing at the vehicle. Adams confirmed in his interview with police that he was the driver of this vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle carrying Scott wasn't at the scene when police arrived but was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Muench said that surveillance footage taken from area businesses showed that Scott's vehicle was driving northbound when the sedan, which had previously run a red light, came alongside the vehicle and started shooting. Scott's vehicle would later dip off toward the park and crash into the tree.
Adams was apprehended by police later that Friday, revealing to police that he was the vehicle's driver and that Bell was in the rear passenger side seat of the sedan. Surveillance footage from a local convenience store where Adams was shortly before the shooting showed Bell getting out of the vehicle from the rear passenger side, the same spot that he was when the incident occurred.
Bell was also shown purchasing food from the convenience store before returning to Adams' vehicle.
Peoria County Circuit Judge Mark Gilles ruled that Muench had established probable cause, with the detention hearing continued until Thursday at 3 p.m. If convicted, Bell could be sentenced to life in prison.
More: Three teenagers face charges after Peoria shooting that injured two
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Passenger charged with first-degree murder in deadly Peoria shooting
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