CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — A man is recovering in the hospital after a shooting early Saturday morning in the heart of Campustown near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. Police are still searching for the suspect.
According to the University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD), officers responded at approximately 12:26 a.m. to reports of shots fired near the intersection of Green and Fifth Streets. Officers arrived on scene within a minute and found a male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. He was immediately treated and transported to Carle Hospital, where he underwent surgery and continues to receive care.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the shooting followed a verbal altercation between multiple individuals. The UIPD confirmed the victim is not affiliated with the university, and there is no indication that any of the involved parties have ties to U of I.
An Illini-Alert was issued at 12:29 a.m. warning the public to avoid the area. Another alert at 1:08 a.m. stated that the suspect was believed to have left the area. By 4:23 a.m., a final alert announced the emergency had ended and normal activity could resume.
Investigators from both UIPD and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit processed the area, which remained cordoned off with crime scene tape into the early morning
Police obtained surveillance video from nearby businesses and continue to review it as part of their ongoing investigation.
UIPD emphasized that this appears to be an isolated incident and does not pose an ongoing threat to the campus community. Still, additional police resources will be deployed around Green Street in the coming days.
Anyone with information is urged to contact UIPD at 217-333-1216. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477, via their website, or the P3 Tips mobile app.
