Pair formally charged with four Twin-City armed robberies

McLean County prosecutors say the suspects Terrell Blackshear (left) and Larry Nelson stole about $1,8000 in the four armed robberies. (Photo Bloomington Police Department)

 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Authorities are releasing more details about four recent Twin-Cities armed robberies following the arrests late last week of two local men.

Chief Judge Mark Fellheimer ordered Terrell Blackshear, 28, of Bloomington and Larry Nelson, 31, of Normal to be held on $250,000 bond, meaning they each need to come up with $25,035 to be released from jail.

Blackshear and Nelson are accused of holding up the Subway restaurant on East Oakland Avenue at knife point April 18.

Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Lawson said police recovered a BB gun in Blackshear’s car that was reportedly used to rob Six Points Food and Liquor on Six Points Road April 29, Casey’s General Store on Gill Street May 8, and O’Reilly Auto Parts on Greenbriar Drive in Normal May 14.

Lawson said the suspects made off with a total of about $1,800 in the four hold ups, and in some of the robberies the pair ordered employees to the ground and stole their cell phones.  Nobody was injured.

The suspects are set to appear in court again May 31.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…