Marcus Whitehead, 18, was fatally shot on January 15, 2024, in a botched armed robbery in an alley on Peoria’s south side. He and another person had come to Peoria to look at a car advertised on Facebook Marketplace and were directed into the alley, where a group of individuals attempted to rob them at gunpoint. A fight broke out and gunfire followed; Whitehead suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:49 p.m., according to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood. The autopsy concluded he likely died instantly from severe internal injuries.

Peoria police arrested several people in connection with the robbery. Sontarrius Williams, 27, and Jalyn Branscumb, 18, were charged with one count of armed robbery; later Jonathan Williams, 19, and Tanarius Kingcade, 18, were also charged with armed robbery, and 18-year-old Keshawn Williams was previously charged. The person who fired the fatal shot, a legal gun owner, was not charged after the State’s Attorney determined he acted in self-defense.

The investigation is ongoing; anyone with information is asked to contact Peoria police.