Russell DeAngelo Jefferson, 31, was fatally shot on October 6, 2019, during a birthday celebration at Cronie’s Bar & Grill in Machesney Park. Born October 17, 1988, to Reatha Patterson and Robert Jefferson, he was the father of five sons: Quinton, Royal, Ashton, Ramier, and Russell Jefferson Jr., and was known to family and friends as Russ D.

Another man was wounded in the same shooting and treated and released from the hospital. Authorities arrested 28-year-old Kenneth Johnson and charged him with multiple counts including first-degree murder; prosecutors said Johnson opened fire inside the bar, killing Jefferson. The incident prompted village leaders to call for an investigation into the establishment because of safety concerns and past complaints about loud noise and inadequate security. The bar’s owner, Tim Bent Sr., decided to close the business permanently less than two weeks after the shooting.

Does anyone who knew Russell or was at Cronie’s that night have information that could shed more light on what happened?