Prison sentence given to Bloomington shooting victim who tried to hide gun part in his mouth

Posted on January 13, 2023

PEORIA – The reported victim in a gang-related shooting a year ago in Bloomington is himself going to prison for trying to hide evidence in his mouth when he was in the hospital.

U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid sentenced Javares Hudson, 22, of Bloomington to two-years and nine-months in a federal lock-up for possession of a Glock “Switch” attachment that’s designed to convert Glock handguns into fully automatic machine guns.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Hudson had been shot outside a Bloomington nightclub on Jan. 23 of last year. When the police officer tried to question him, hospital staff noticed Hudson had plastic in his mouth. Authorities say Hudson eventually spit out a small baggie containing the Glock conversion device.

Under federal law, the device qualifies as a machine gun, and Hudson pleaded guilty in September.

Earlier this month, 25 News reported on the initial court appearance for a Bloomington man suspected of shooting Hudson, who was a passenger in a vehicle fleeing the scene in the 600 block of North Main Street.

A McLean County Judge set bond for Ronald Thornton, 23, at $2 million. Thornton faces six felony charges including aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a gang member, aggravated discharge of a firearm at an occupied building and reckless discharge of a firearm.

Thornton’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 27.

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