Darius M. Dawson, 30, was found dead in the backyard of a home in the 2700 block of West Latrobe Street in Peoria on July 31, 2021. The Peoria County Coroner, Jamie Harwood, reported multiple gunshot wounds that caused rapid, severe internal bleeding; Dawson was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:20 a.m. The death was classified as a homicide by the Peoria Police Department.

Investigators say Dawson arrived at the woman’s home that morning where another man, Rodney L. Herron, 29, was present; a confrontation occurred and Dawson was shot multiple times. A 50-year-old woman, the mother of the homeowner, discovered the body and called 911. Police recovered several 9 mm shell casings inside the house and in the rear yard.

Herron was arrested and charged with first-degree murder; the affidavit says Herron and the woman had been together the night before, and Dawson had called the woman repeatedly that morning. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to come forward.