Ten-year-old Torres Lamar Johnson II of Peoria was fatally shot in the chest on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at the CityScape Apartments on the city’s south side. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital just after 8 p.m., less than half an hour after the shooting. Prosecutors say the shooting happened during a robbery attempt tied to a cannabis sale; they allege Maurice D. Sargent, 33, was with two teenagers making a purchase when the teens tried to rob him, Sargent fired a gun, and a stray bullet struck Johnson, an innocent bystander.

Sargent has been charged with first-degree murder and with being an armed habitual criminal, a Class X felony, and a judge granted a petition for his pretrial detention; a 14-year-old is charged with attempted armed robbery. Torres was remembered by family, classmates, teachers, and the community as fun, loving, outgoing, a fan of music and the video game Fortnite, and an aspiring YouTuber. A funeral was held on October 11 at Sovereign Grace Missional Baptist Church, and a fund at Busey Bank was set up to help with funeral expenses.

If anyone who knew Torres or who has information about the shooting can help investigators, please come forward.