James L. Berkel, 45, of McLeansboro, Illinois, was shot and killed at his residence on the night of September 30, 2016. He was born September 28, 1971, in Alton, Illinois. The Illinois State Police led the investigation with assistance from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, McLeansboro Police Department, and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.

A McLeansboro man, 24-year-old Zachery Shock, was arrested and initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with Berkel’s death. Shock later admitted in court to shooting Berkel with an SKS rifle and pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm; the first-degree murder charges were dismissed. Shock escaped from the White County Jail while being held for Hamilton County and was recaptured weeks later; that escape was allowed as evidence in the murder proceedings.

Anyone who knew James Berkel or has information about the events of September 30, 2016, is asked to come forward.