Joshua Perkins, a 34-year-old African American man from Peoria, Illinois, was shot and killed on May 9, 2021, at the MacArthur Shell gas station at 200 N. MacArthur Highway. Perkins was sitting in his vehicle at a pump around 11:30 p.m. when Arenza Brown, 20, approached. The two, who were acquainted, talked about marijuana and music; Brown noticed Perkins had a large amount of money.

Brown returned to his vehicle, then came back and a conversation escalated into a violent confrontation. Brown produced a gun and put it against Perkins’ neck; a struggle followed and the gun discharged, fatally wounding Perkins. Perkins was taken by private vehicle to UnityPoint-Health Methodist, where he died shortly after arrival. Two other people fled the scene; police later apprehended Brown and another man, Demarian Palmer, and recovered firearms.

Who has information about Perkins, his movements that night, or the events at the gas station?