Christopher Bess, a 31-year-old African American man from Centreville, Illinois, was shot and killed in the early hours of February 28, 2021. Police found Bess with gunshot wounds in the 500 block of Alabama Street; he was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead shortly after 3:35 a.m. The Centreville Police Department was assisted by the Illinois State Police in the investigation.

Investigators described the shooting as appearing to be a targeted attack. No arrests were made immediately after the incident, and as of the latest updates the case remained open with no significant breakthroughs. Authorities urged the community to come forward with any information or leads that might identify the perpetrator or perpetrators.

If anyone has information about Christopher Bess, his movements that night, or the 500 block of Alabama Street around 3 a.m. on February 28, 2021, please contact the Centreville Police Department.