17-year-old charged with murder as an adult in connection with Normal shootings

Posted on April 27, 2018
Normal Police were called to the Lancaster Heights apartments on E. College Ave. at about 10 p.m. Wednesday. (Google Maps photo)

By Howard Packowitz and Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – A youth from Normal is being charged as an adult with murder in connection with the fatal shootings in an E. College Ave. apartment on Wednesday night.

Christopher Harrison, 17, of the Normal address where the shootings occurred, faces six counts of first degree murder. Judge Pablo Eaves set bond for Harrison at $2.5 million.

Harrison is accused of shooting two Bloomington men, Joseph Gardner, 20, and Reginaldt Hart Jr., 19, in an apartment at Lancaster Heights multiple times execution-style.

McLean County State’s Attorney Jason Chambers told the judge Gardner was shot 13 times with nine of the shots in the back of the head and back, and Hart was shot eight times.

Chambers did not disclose a motive, but said Harrison led police to stolen weapons he had, including an AR-15 rifle. Chambers also said police found marijuana and a digital scale in Harrison’s bedroom.

Harrison will be housed in the McLean County Juvenile Detention Facility until he turns 18 on June 1.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].

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