0. And she suspects before, or sentenced to death", "Champaign Man Arrested, Charged with Kidnapping Visiting Scholar", "Flowers, anger, regret as accused kidnapper indicted", "Grand Jury Indicts Champaign Man on Charge of Kidnapping", "Accused kidnapper's attorney says he'll plead not guilty today", "Defense in trial of China scholar's brutal death: He did it", "In opening statement, attorney admits Brendt Christensen abducted, killed Chinese scholar at University of Illinois", "Brendt Christensen found guilty in Yingying Zhang's kidnapping, killing", "Life in prison for man convicted of killing Chinese student", "A father's plea to a killer: Tell us where our daughter's remains are", "Yingying Zhang's Family Told Her Body Likely In Landfill Near Danville, But 'May Be Impossible' To Recover", "Finding Yingying Zhang's Remains 'May Be Impossible' Family Says After New Details Surface", "Brendt Christensen Moved to Kentucky Prison to Serve Out Life Sentence", "UI again files motion to have lawsuit from slain scholar's family dismissed", "Visiting Scholar From China, Remembered With A Garden At U Of I", "Memorial garden dedicated to missing scholar Yingying Zhang", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Yingying_Zhang&oldid=1142917489, Anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States, Anti-Chinese violence in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text, Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 March 2023, at 00:55. Social media, he said, has become a tool to call out others, or to quickly alert an ally to the location of a perceived enemy. Partly cloudy skies. May 21: James Rooster Coleman, 25, shot during a dice game in a Gramercy Park apartment in the 200 block of South Country Fair Drive; London Taylor, 21, of Urbana, and Keith Baker, 25, of Champaign, awaiting trial for murder. There was also a larger number of assaults at 356. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217- 373-8477 (TIPS); online at, Suspect in Homicide Investigation Surrenders to Police. [14] The university's large Chinese student population helped coordinate search efforts on and around campus. However, because she was on the wrong side of the street for boarding, the bus did not stop after she attempted to flag it down. DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) A Champaign man has been convicted for his role in the murder of two men in Danville more than five years ago. That was my last word to my child.. An Illinois man convicted of killing Yingying Zhang, a Chinese international student studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in 2017 has been sentenced to life in prison. Seating will be assigned for this event. City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site. Pick the brain of veteran News-Gazette columnist Tom Kacich and veteran WDWS/WHMS radio personality Kathy Reiser. . Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Date of Occurrence: July 9, 2000, approximately 12:38 a.m. When questioned, Christensen reportedly claimed that he did not remember what he was doing at the time of Zhang's disappearance. Description: Champaign Police Officer Robert Tatman, service badge #80, was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop. Location of Occurrence: 2600 block of Lawndale Dr., Champaign Description: Officers discovered Mr. Hopkins inside of a private residence with a fatal gunshot wound. Location of Occurrence: 900 Block of N. Third St., Champaign. The 2019 Urbana crime rate fell by 11% compared to 2018. Everyone has a role. In Illinois, the homicide rate was 9.1 per 100,000 people, the highest rate since 1996. 3354 Big Pine Trl Ste C, Champaign, IL 61822, 1807 S Neil St (at Fox Drive), Champaign, IL 61820. What a game', 'Craziness' of Illini helps secure double overtime win, Editorial | White Castle ruling leaves bad taste in business community's mouth, New Illini-centered name, image, likeness collective targets big-dollar donations, Man charged in connection with 35 pounds of cannabis in his home. As officers and medical personnel arrived, they determined Mr. Boyd to be deceased with injuries that suggested foul play was involved. The 2019 Champaign crime rate rose by 17% compared to 2018. A young man displays a certain gun on a video and someone else wants to mimic that. 3354 Big Pine Trl Ste C, Champaign, IL 61822, 1807 S Neil St (at Fox Drive), Champaign, IL 61820. The latter topped 2,014 in 2019. They concluded that the car in the footage belonged to Christensen. Jackson failed to return home or contact any family and was reported missing on November 29, 2011. Team members will work to link people with resources and services available in the community. [10] On June 29, Christensen attended a memorial walk for Zhang with his girlfriend. In early December 2019, Christensen reported to USP McCreary in Pine Knot, Kentucky to begin serving his life sentence. Its no secret that there are often several casings, and in some shootings, were starting to see rifle rounds, he said. Location of Occurrence: 1200 block of Clock St., Champaign. Minutes later, a passing motorist used Tatmans squad car radio to notify dispatch that there was an unresponsive policeman lying near his vehicle. Upon arrival, officers located a 26-year-old male suffering from a single life-threatening gunshot wound to the chest. Peaceful Views. Description: Officers responded to the 100 block of North State St. for the report of a robbery. Officer Tatman was pronounced deceased on the scene from an apparent gunshot wound. [19] Zhang's family said they would not leave the country until she was found. [], On July 1, 2020, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Champaign Police were called to the 100 Block of North State Street for the report of a robbery. The victim was rushed to a local hospital; however, he did not survive his injuries. We take a look at eight of the most famous homicides in the history of Illinois. Officers responded to reports of a possible shooting in the 1300 block of N. Chestnut. Police will arrange to speak privately with you. #6 Best Places to Live in Champaign County. Dinner is included and a cash bar will be available. SHELDON An Iroquois County man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the death of a 17-year-old girl. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Maywood Source: Wikipedia User Boscophotos | CC BY-SA 3.0 Overall SnackAbility 5 /10 Population: 23,277 Christensen was tried and convicted of one count of kidnapping resulting in death and two counts of making false statements to agents of the FBI, but the jury deadlocked on whether or not to impose the death penalty. Date/Time of Occurrence: November 25, 1967, at approximately 1:00 a.m. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. And the 266 confirmed reports in Champaign, Urbana and the county represent only those where police can verify that a gun was fired. The 34-year-old female, identified as Ms. Cobb, succumbed to her injuries a short time after the incident occurred. Long denied bail for Christensen after hearing submissions from the prosecutor and Christensen's attorneys, Evan and Tom Bruno. Location of Occurrence: 200 block of E. Springfield Ave., Champaign. Officers learned the victim had sustained life-threatening injuries during this event and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Steven Butler, III of Champaign - picture posted to Missing Persons Awareness Network Facebook page. On July 14, 2022, at approximately 5:14 a.m., Champaign Police responded to the 400 block of E. Beardsley Avenue for a report of a shooting with injury. Krannert Art Museum. The [], On October 6, 2020, at approximately 11:12 a.m., the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force and United States Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested DAndre Miller, 33, of Champaign, for his alleged involvement in a Feb. 3, 2020, homicide. [39][4] During sentencing deliberations, the jury could not unanimously agree to sentence Christensen to death. Chicago Tribune. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021. He bled out, Willy-Ann Hoff said, her lip quivering. The task force took nearly 100 guns off the street last year. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. AP / Macon County Sheriff's Office. The indictment alleges that Christensen "willfully and unlawfully seized, confined, inveigled, decoyed, kidnapped, abducted, and carried away" Zhang "and otherwise held her for his own benefit and purpose, and used and caused to be used a means, facility and instrumentality of interstate commerce, namely, a Motorola cellular telephone and a Saturn Astra motor vehicle, in committing and in furtherance of the commission of the offense". They also noted that the car in the video had a cracked hubcap and, upon reinspecting Christensen's car, found that it had a cracked hubcap. Steve Chen. Pick the brain of veteran News-Gazette columnist Tom Kacich and veteran WDWS/WHMS radio personality Kathy Reiser. A makeshift memorial to Kimberly Vaughn, and her three children Abigayle, 12, Cassandra, 11, and Blake, 8, is seen outside their home in Oswego, Ill. Christopher Vaughn, who was convicted in the . He later told investigators that he may have been sleeping, or at home playing video games. Laboratory Manual for Exercise Physiology, Second Edition With HKPropel Access, provides guided opportunities for students to translate their scientific understanding of exercise physiology into practical applications in a variety of settings. Date of Occurrence: December 18, 2004, at approximately 4:42 a.m. [12] Christensen's girlfriend was approached by FBI investigators and agreed to wear a wire, thinking that it would exonerate Christensen if he had not committed the crime. After resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, Mr. Ledbetter was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. A rough year for gunfire, deaths in Champaign County, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 19; 3 still missing, Trump pitches a sequel, but shies away from attacking rivals, China sets this year's economic growth target at 'around 5%', Can't take statins? Compare Champaign crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. [A text description of this figure is . Willy-Ann Hoff is a staple at C-U non-profit HV Neighborhood Transformation these days. Location of Occurrence: 700 block of Hickory St., Champaign Electrical engineer and physicist; two time Nobel Prize winner in Physics. [31][12][32] The FBI report noted that in April, before the alleged kidnapping, Christensen used his cellphone to access the sexual fetish website Fetlife, visiting forums such as "Abduction 101". Champaign Police Department Perceptions of crime on trails vs. parks in minority neighborhoods as factors affecting recreation use. Police said an investigation done then suggested that an unknown person or people forced their way into the home and fired multiple rounds at Mr. Hobbs before fleeing. On July 14, 2022, at approximately 5:14 a.m., Champaign Police responded to the 400 block of E. Beardsley Avenue for a report of a shooting with injury. [4] She played in a band and had ambitions of becoming a professor in China. Larry lived alone at his residence with about 60 acres of land at 30269 McDaniel School Road Tamms, IL. The investigation revealed the victims were outside of a private residence standing near a parked car when they were shot by unknown assailant(s) from an open area across the street. [2] The MTD stated it is against company policy to stop for pedestrians on the wrong side of the street, as to do so would encourage them to run into oncoming traffic. Keying in on the individuals involved in gun crime activities, Coon explained. Cello12345. 17 people, including teenagers, lost their lives. Mr. Roth was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Stateman Hoffs life was cut short when a fight broke out at a party in northwest Champaign in 2016. [11], Zhang then walked to another bus stop a few blocks away at the corner of North Goodwin Avenue and West Clark Street, directly in front of the university's PBS radio and television station, WILL. The son, and father of two, was 22 years old. What a game', 'Craziness' of Illini helps secure double overtime win, Editorial | White Castle ruling leaves bad taste in business community's mouth, New Illini-centered name, image, likeness collective targets big-dollar donations, Man charged in connection with 35 pounds of cannabis in his home. Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. They dont have a normal chain of command or a certain code like back in the late 1980s or 90s with the Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords where orders were given, things were done. Of 15 murders in Champaign County during 2020, the instrument of death for 12 of those people was a gun. Champaign and Urbana mirrored the national trends. Location of Occurrence: 100 block of North State St., Champaign. [2][29], At a court hearing on July 5, U.S. Magistrate Eric I. We do not want to see any more moms hurting any longer, Hoff shared.Meanwhile, Urbana police reported 10 homicides for 2021, also a record. The kidnapping and murder of Yingying Zhang occurred in Urbana, Illinois on June 9, 2017, when Zhang, a visiting Chinese scholar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was abducted by Brendt Allen Christensen, a Champaign resident and former physics graduate student at the university. Darker colors represent the lowest and highest rates of diabetes prevalence in Illinois. [2][10][24][25] Christensen married in March 2011, and started graduate school in 2013. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021. The 10 Murder Capitals Of Illinois For 2021 1. You can also share information anonymously toChampaign County Crime Stoppers. Location of Occurrence: 1500 block of Hedge Rd., Champaign. The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Reginald Hardwick is the News & Public Affairs Director for the Illinois Newsroom. [2], The University of Illinois Police Department and Urbana Police Department worked with FBI agents to locate Zhang, offering a reward of US$10,000 for information leading to her location. Feb 20, 2015 at 10:25 am. [38][10] Evidence was provided that before Christensen abducted Zhang, he had posed as an undercover police officer and attempted to abduct graduate student Emily Hogan. Date of Occurrence: July 1, 2003, at approximately 8:54p.m. at Parkland College Harold and Jean Miner Theatre, CHAMPAIGN Illinois. Spanning over 23 miles, Champaign has a population density of 3,962 people per square mile. Champaign reported 827 violent crimes in 2020 (the same number as 2019), and Urbana reported a significant increase, from 124 incidents in 2019 to 214 in 2020. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim, later identified as Mr. Roth, who had sustained life-threatening injuries. The investigation revealed that Hull had been physically assaulted, including sustaining multiple stab wounds. Mr. Google Maps Generator by embedgooglemap.net. As is the case in much of the country, criminal violence is becoming more common in Danville. ", "Defense Attorney: 'Brendt Christensen Killed Yingying Zhang', "The Chilling Murder of a Chinese Student on a US Campus, and Why Justice Is Elusive", "Grand jury indicts former U. of I. physics student in Chinese scholar's kidnapping", "Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences: College of ACES, University of Illinois", "FBI Investigates Chinese Woman's Disappearance as Kidnapping", "United States of America vs. Brendt A. Christensen, Jury Trial (Volume 8A)", "MTD: It's wrong to blame bus driver who didn't stop for scholar", United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, "Surveillance Video of Missing Student Yingying Zhang", "FBI offers up to $10,000 reward for info leading to missing scholar", "Chinese UI students helping with search for missing countrywoman", "Missing student's family arrives in US, FBI offers reward- World Chinadaily.com.cn", "Updated: Separate $40,000 reward announced in case of missing UI scholar", "Missing UI scholar's family 'will not leave without her', "Missing UI scholar's family appeals to Trump for help finding her", "FBI investigating possible sightings of missing Illinois student", "Salem Police Say Asian Woman Seen In Salem Last Month Wasn't Missing Kidnap Victim", "University of Illinois increasing security on campus following kidnapping", "One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Commencement", "Christensen's ex-wife testifies about marital issues", "Prosecutor: Suspect in Chinese student's kidnapping discussed 'ideal victim', "Bail denied for suspect in kidnapping of U of I scholar", "Brendt Christensen, accused killer of Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying, laughed about how he 'chopped her head off', girlfriend says", "Zhang Yingying killed more details exposed! . Click here to see our subscription options. Date of Occurrence: November 17, 2014, at approximately 10:00p.m. The rate of murder in Champaign County is 0.06 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance where he succumbed to [], On July 2, 2021, at approximately 3 p.m., Champaign Police responded to the 700 block of Hickory Street for a shooting with injuries. [12][31] According to the law, if a kidnapping results in the death of any person, life imprisonment or the death penalty is prescribed. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) Candidates for Champaign Mayor, city council and more participated in a forum Sunday at Champaign Public . [20], Several citizens had reported seeing an Asian woman matching Zhang's description in Salem, Illinois on June 16. She arrived in the United States in April 2017 to conduct research on photosynthesis and crop productivity for one year[7] in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences,[8] within the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES), at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Tickets are limited and will go quickly! CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) The number of people murdered in the City of Champaign reached an all-time high in 2021. [18] This reward is the largest offered in the 31-year history of the Champaign Crime Stoppers organization. All sales are final. UPDATE: Tornado watch issued until 3 p.m. Roselle man in custody in 2021 shooting of North Prospect Avenue motorist, Good Morning, Illini Nation: Big Ten standings update, Epps 'doing better' after hospitalization, Bob's buzzer beaters | 'What a game. Biden announces aggressive new, Newsfeed Now: Biden to launch new plan against COVID-19, Newsfeed Now: Health experts concerned about COVID-19, Newsfeed Now: Pres. Description: Officers responded to the 1200 block of Clock Street for a medical call that described Mr. Boyd as being found unconscious and bleeding. The U.S. murder rate jumped by 30% from 2019 to 2020, an increase attributed to a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. But criminologists noted that nationally, not all violent crimes increased, and property crime the most common type of crime actually decreased by 8 percent. While Mount Vernon takes the cake for most dangerous city statewide overall, there's nowhere more violent in Illinois than Danville. Police are investigating to see if there's a link to a shooting 22 hours earlier in another part of town that wounded one man. Champaign man who fatally shot friend outside American Legion gets 65 years. Presented by the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company. For the last few years, its been known there are these high-powered weapons in the community and many of them are possessed by people not allowed to have them, he said. Listen Now MURDERED: Tracy Kirkpatrick When 17-year-old Tracy Kirkpatrick is found murdered in March 1989, investigators struggle to find any evidence pointing to who killed her. Rumblings from the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project, The Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University and an impending show on CBS's 48 Hours were that two men had been wrongfully convicted for these murders. Michigan leads Illinois 23-21 with 7:50 left in the first half. Location of Occurrence: 400 block of West Vine St., Champaign. Jawed Karim. Date of Occurrence: September 19, 1997, at approximately 1:40p.m. Case details: Homicide investigation of Mary Ann Becker (15,000 reward) On Sept. 9, 1974, between the hours of 5:45 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., Mary Ann Becker was discovered dead inside her home in Atkinson. AUTHOR TO TALK ABOUT 'BUCKET LIST' BOOK. Attempts were made to contact the missing [], On July 23, 2021, at approximately 4:56 p.m., Champaign Police responded to the 3000 Block of Edward Hoffman Drive for the report of shots fired. Foul play is suspected. There were more violent crimes including homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault in the two cities in 2020 than at any time since 2010, according to the FBI data. The schools are top notch with a highly involved community.. View nearby homes. Upon arrival, officers were met by a large crowd and discovered a 17-year-old male suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds to his chest and officers immediately began providing medical aid. Griffet heads up the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency body of area detectives who investigate drug offenses. Tommy O'Connor. 500 E. Peabody Dr. Champaign, Illinois 61820 . Urbana man charged with murder in 2019 shooting in west Champaign, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 19; 3 still missing, Trump pitches a sequel, but shies away from attacking rivals, China sets this year's economic growth target at 'around 5%', Can't take statins? [10] He asked Hogan to get into his car, she refused, and he drove off. Bob . The room looked nice but the halls to the room were also dark . Co-founder of YouTube. Champaign, Illinois 61820-6914 (217) 819-5000 . The multi-jurisdictional unit was formed in 2015 in direct response to an increase in gun violence in Champaign-Urbana. Partly cloudy skies. Crime & Safety. read more . Your chance of being a victim of murder in Champaign may be as high as 1 in 9,241 in the east neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 26,751 in the south . Make a night of it! Low 32F. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Police will arrange to speak privately with you. Description: Mr. Jackson was last seen by his family on November 26, 2011 after leaving home to run errands. Upon arrival, officers located 34-year-old Latoya Gwin [], On October 20, 2021, at approximately 10:37 p.m., Champaign Police responded to the 200 block ofKenwoodRoad for the report of a shooting with injuries. Four individuals were identified as sustaining gunshot wounds and were treated at area hospitals. Judge Roger Webber said surveillance video from the area where Darin Mitchell, 48, of Champaign, was shot on Aug. 23 . Cain, was transported to the Champaign County Jail where he will remain. Upon arrival, Mr. McKinney was found lying in the open doorway of his home, with an apparent gunshot wound. Over the next two days, Christensen claimed he disposed of Zhang's personal belongings in various dumpsters in the Champaign-Urbana area. Description: Upon arriving to the scene in the 400 block of West Vine St., officers located Mr. Moore in the driveway of a private residence suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Description: On December 24, 1991, Officers responded to Ms. Hulls residence after receiving a report that she had been found unresponsive with traumatic injury. Location of Occurrence: 300 block of East Hill St., Champaign. When: Sept. 9, 1974. Zhang has one younger brother, Zhengyang. March 29: Kimberly Coyne, 54; and her daughter Blair Coyne, 24, shot in their home in the 1600 block of County Road 2200 E, northwest of St. Joseph; Jonathan Perry, 29, awaiting trial for their murders. Location of Occurrence: 1700 block of Gentry Square Ln., Champaign. Seraphin says there are many things to look for in order to count an incident as a shooting. Nov. 26: Alan T. Harden, 31, of Decatur, shot multiple times in the 2500 block of Leeper Court; no arrests. It may be three of your friends from the neighborhood, and you decide to bond together and look out for each other, he said. Location of Occurrence: 1300 block of N. Hickory St., Champaign. The bond on the warrant was set at $2 million. Danville averaged a murder each month in 2020, giving the city the seventh highest murder rate in the state.