Ralph Ledet, 46, of Pembroke Township, Illinois, was found dead in his driveway at 6624 South 17250 East Road after shots were reported just after 1:11 AM on October 1, 2016. Responding deputies discovered Ledet with a gunshot wound; the Kankakee County Coroner ruled the death a homicide and recorded multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

Investigators later linked Ledet’s death to three other separate fatal shootings in Pembroke Township that killed Reginald Neal, Dangelo Neal, and Davante Hopkins. The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Technicians processed the scenes while Kankakee County detectives, aided by the Illinois State Police, led the inquiries. On March 13, 2017, James E. Beals, 55, of Pembroke Township, was arrested in Benton Harbor, Michigan, on an outstanding homicide warrant and taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals awaiting extradition to Kankakee.

The investigation remains ongoing and CrimeStoppers offered a reward of up to one thousand dollars for information. If anyone has information about Ledet or the related shootings, please share it with the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office.