Urbana Police Department focused on two homicide investigations

URBANA - Three individuals lost their lives over the weekend in Urbana in separate incidents, both being investigated as homicides.

On Friday, 18-year-old Sherman McCraney Jr. was shot multiple times by unknown assailants on the 2000 block of Vawter, near Silver in east Urbana. Officers provided first aid and life-saving procedures while waiting for medical transport. The victim was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.

On Saturday around 8 p.m., Urbana Police responded to a scene near Lanore Drive and Washington Street, where they discovered 7-year-old Darnell “DJ” Hicks and 43-year-old Melvin Braxton deceased from gunshot wounds.

The UPD issued a statement on Facebook:

"The Urbana Police Department is currently investigating two homicides that occurred over the weekend. The first incident took place on Friday evening, involving an 18-year-old victim who was tragically shot and killed. The second incident occurred on Saturday evening, resulting in the deaths of a 7-year-old and a 43-year-old.

At this time, we are actively investigating both incidents and do not believe they are connected. Specifically, the incident on Saturday involving the 7-year-old and 43-year-old appears to be the result of a domestic violence situation. The suspect involved in this incident was known to the occupants of the residence, and therefore, we do not believe it was a random act.

We are grieving alongside those affected by these tragedies and extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones impacted. We urge anyone with information on either incident to come forward. Your cooperation is vital to our efforts to ensure justice and safety in our community."

Urbana News

The UPD is asking anyone with information on either incident to please come forward. Passing along any information that someone may have will make Champaign-Urbana safe.

"Your cooperation is vital to our efforts to ensure justice and safety in our community," the police department said in a release on Feb. 9. "Urbana Police ask that anyone who has additional information please call 217-384-2320. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately. "

The Criminal Investigations Division is asking residents or businesses in the nearby area with exterior surveillance camera systems for video footage which may help bring the criminals to justice quickly.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at 217-373-TIPS (217-373-8477); online at 373tips.com; or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.

Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous. Calls are routed a to third-party national call center that receives your information, completes a tip information form, and then passes the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers, and conversations are not recorded.

Crime Stoppers will pay cash rewards of $5,000 for tips that lead to an arrest in any homicide case, $2,500 for tips leading to an arrest in a felony crime involving a firearm, and up to $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for any other crime.

Village Crier: March 30, 2021

Killer in St. Joseph double murder convicted

A jury of six men and six women took just two hours on Thursday, March 11, to reach a mutual agreement that Jonathon Perry, 30, murdered his girlfriend, Kimberly Coyne, 54, and her daughter, Blair Coyne, 24, in their home on the north side of St. Joseph a year ago this past weekend.

Perry was quickly arrested after the incident after Champaign County sheriff’s deputies were informed of statements he made to a family member consistent with the crime. During trial, prosecutors for the state noted that Perry had said he had killed the "Antichrist and Satan" when he was taken into custody last year at 4am on Sunday, March 29.

Three months after his arrest, a court-appointed psychiatrist examined Perry and declared him fit for trial.

Found guilty of first degree murder of both women, Judge Randy Rosenbaum is left no leeway to hand down nothing other than a life sentence during the sentencing phase on April 22.

St. Thomas trivia night on April 9

St. Thomas Catholic School in Philo will host a Virtual Trivia night from 6-10pm on April 9.

There will also be a 50/50 raffle during the online ZOOM event. Each table package will include a Dead or Alive game sheet and one Mulligan to use for each trivia round. Reservations for tables are being accepted now.

"We are continually adding to our silent auction items, so make sure to check back often to see what has been added," it says on the event page. "Silent auction bidding will be open from 6 pm - 10 pm on Trivia Night".

For more information contact the event organizers at tcain@stthomasphilo.org

Franzen to take middle school reigns

The St. Joseph Consolidated Community School Board voted to hire Alisyn Franzen as the new principal at the St. Joseph Middle School starting this fall. Franzen, who will take over the position with the retirement of Chris Graham, currently teaches English at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Nursery to host spring open house

Schuren Garden Center, located at 1709 County Rd. 2200E, St. Joseph, will host their annual spring open house on Saturday, April 10.

The open house will start at 8:30am and run through 5:30pm. In addition to door prizes and refreshments, shoppers will be able to save 20% off their entire purchase. The business will hold purchases until Mother's Day if needed.

Visit their website or call (217) 469-7962.

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Two St. Joseph residents found dead, suspect in custody

Early this morning, Champaign County deputies arrested Jonathon Perry, of Homer, now held in custody at the Champaign County Correctional Center, on the preliminary charge murder after deputies performed a welfare check on a residence located on Shore Drive in St. Joseph.

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Bond set for the accused in St. Joseph murder, victims' identities are released

Judge Tom Difanis set bond for Jonathon Perry, accused of killing his girlfriend Kimberly Coyne, age 54, and her daughter Blair Coyne, age 24, at $2.5 million earlier today.

Perry, who is 28 years old, is being held responsible for shooting both women early Monday morning in the home they shared located just north of Interstate 74 at 1600 N. and CR2200E. He is charged with four counts for each victim for at total of eight.

The accused was located at his parent's home in Homer by the deputies after his mother contacted dispatchers around 4:15am. She made the call after her son made statements that raised her concern about the well-being of his girlfriend and her daughter.

Deputies were simultaneously dispatched to the Homer and St. Joseph. Kimberly's body was found in the home while Blair's was located face down in the driveway both with gunshot wounds yet to be disclosed investigators. Weapons were reportedly found near both of the deceased.

At the time of his arrest Perry was wearing multiple pairs of pants and had an empty gun holster in the leg of one pair. When questioned where the guns were, he said the guns were "with the Devil and the Anti-Christ".

Perry, who was released from prison in July 2016 after serving about four years of an an eight year sentence for residential burglary, is scheduled to be back in court on April 16 for a probable cause hearing.

Two St. Joseph residents found dead, suspect in custody

While searching the property around 4:15am this morning, deputies found two deceased females whose identification is being withheld pending notification of the victims' families.

"Deputies were advised that an individual, later identified as Jonathon Perry, made statements which led the reporting person to believe the resident(s) had been injured and/or possibly killed," Sheriff's Office said in a release this morning.

Multiple first-degree murder charges are expected to be filed against Perry on Monday. If convicted of both murders, he faces a mandatory sentence of natural life behind bars.

In March of 2012, the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department on Monday arrested Perry, then 20, and two other men on felony counts of burglary after residents throughout Sidell filed 10 separate car burglary reports. He was subsequently sentenced to an eight year prison term for his participation in a string of auto and residential thief.

Perry, at the age 17, was charged with burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle in 2009. Charges were dropped after the state crime lab due to the lack of physical evidence in those incidents as well as several alleged car fires in Homer and Sidney.

The Sheriff’s Office and Champaign County Coroner’s Office continue their investigation in the double homicide case. The two victims died from apparent gunshot wounds.