Eric Beasley

Do you know who murdered Eric Beasley in 1986?
In the cold, late hours of a December night in 1986, the life of Eric Dennis Beasley was violently cut short on a quiet street in Champaign, Illinois. Born on July 10, 1951, Eric was a 35-year-old man who, according to those who knew him, may have been a father, often traveling to Chicago to visit a child. His life, however, was also marked by recent troubles, including an increasing dependence on drugs and conflicts over money.

The fatal encounter occurred on December 21, 1986. Around 11:45 p.m., residents on the 800 block of North Randolph Street were startled by the sound of several gunshots. When they looked outside, no one saw the shooter, only the aftermath. Eric was found grievously wounded, having collapsed face down. He was rushed to Burnham Hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight. An autopsy would later reveal the brutal extent of the attack: he had been shot six times. The first bullet struck him in the throat, spinning him around before he fell to his knees. A fatal bullet entered his hip and traveled upward, striking his heart.

The Champaign Police Department launched a homicide investigation, but from the outset, detectives were faced with a near-complete lack of direct evidence. While multiple people heard the gunfire, there were no eyewitnesses to the shooting itself, leaving investigators with no description of a suspect or the events that led to the violence. The investigation explored several potential avenues, including anonymous tips that came in but ultimately led nowhere.

Detectives learned that Eric’s personal life was complicated. He had been in a relationship with a woman since October 1985, and she described him as abusive, stating she had called the police on him on several occasions. In the three weeks leading up to his murder, she said he had become more heavily dependent on drugs than ever before. Investigators were also told that Eric had recently had a conflict with two individuals concerning drugs and money, suggesting a possible motive for the killing.

The physical evidence in the case presented its own set of challenges. A Colt .32 caliber automatic pistol was turned over to police and sent to a crime lab in Springfield for analysis to determine if it was the murder weapon, but the results of that testing are not publicly known. There was also no indication that the weapon had been tested for fingerprints. Furthermore, forensic tests for antimony and barium on Eric's hands, which could have shown if he had recently fired a gun, were inconclusive. According to an FBI report, the swabs used for the test were not handled correctly, potentially contaminating the samples and rendering them useless.

For decades, Eric Beasley’s murder has remained unsolved, a cold case in the files of the Champaign Police Department. The lack of witnesses, coupled with potential issues in the handling of forensic evidence, created an uphill battle for investigators that has yet to be overcome. The identity of the person who shot him six times on that winter night remains a mystery. His case is a painful reminder of a life lost and a family left without answers or justice.

The investigation into the homicide of Eric Beasley is still open. The Champaign Police Department continues to hold the case file, hoping that new information may one day emerge. Anyone who has information regarding the shooting on North Randolph Street on December 21, 1986, is urged to contact the Champaign Police Department at 217-351-4545.