By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – A 17-year-old male is in custody in connection with the shooting deaths of two men in an apartment in Normal Wednesday night.

Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner did not identify the male during a Thursday afternoon news conference, nor did he indicate the youth’s role in the incident. Police arrested him near the shooting scene, an apartment complex in the 1400 block of E. College Ave.

“This was a very sad situation, and what I would say was a senseless situation or act,” Bleichner added.

McLean County Coroner Kathy Davis said Joseph Gardner, 20, and Reginaldt Hart Jr., 19, both of Bloomington, were pronounced dead at the scene before 11 p.m. Wednesday. Davis said the men died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Bleichner said officers arrived at the scene quickly after nearby residents called 911.

“There was still smoke hanging in the air,” Bleichner said. “This was something that occurred very recently before the officers arrived. In a sense, they took it upon themselves to go into harm’s way, if you will.”

State’s Attorney Jason Chambers said his office will likely determine formal charges against the youth by late Friday morning.

Bleichner asked anyone who may know something about the incident to call his department. He repeated that officers are not ruling out drug involvement.

“We think this was localized to this particular apartment building with these specific individuals, and that there was no additional threat to public safety,” Bleichner said.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].