By WMBD TV
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A Peoria County jury took about two hours to find a man guilty of murder in connection with a deadly shooting two years ago.
Javier McGhee, 24, showed no emotion. He was dressed in a dark suit and sat straight as Circuit Judge Steve Kouri set a June 25 sentencing hearing. After the jury left the room, guards put handcuffs on McGhee.
He was on trial for the deadly shooting of Trashawn Morris on March 24, 2024, at the Lexington Hills apartment complex.
Security was tight Thursday afternoon in Kouri’s second-floor courtroom. Members of the Peoria Police Department sat in the front row and several bailiffs and security guards were also in the room.
The added presence was likely prompted by an incident earlier Thursday when people were coming in and out of the courtroom. Words were exchanged, leading to a few tense moments outside the room. Nothing happened but Kouri made it clear to the audience that nothing would be tolerated when the verdicts were read.
After Morris’ family left the room following the verdict, screams of joy and cheers could be heard from the hallway. People were hugging each other and thanking members of the State’s Attorney’s Office. McGhee’s family left the area fairly quickly.
McGhee now faces at least 45 years and possibly up to life when sentenced. Jurors rejected his claim that he was either not guilty or, if he was guilty, it should be a lesser offense of second-degree murder.
Second-degree murder typically occurs when a person believed they had to use deadly force, but that belief was unreasonable. In such cases, self-defense is a common argument. The difference is great.
Second-degree murder is probationable, eligible for day-for-day “good-time” credit and has a 20-year maximum prison term.
It wasn’t in dispute that McGhee pulled the trigger. The four-day trial centered on whether he was justified in his claim of self-defense.
McGhee’s attorney, Walter Anderson of Chicago, argued to jurors that his client was not guilty of first-degree murder as he was defending him. McGhee, he said, wasn’t looking for a fight and really wasn’t aware of what was going on at the time.
But prosecutors Jason Ramos and Brenda McCavitt sharply disagreed and noted there was no evidence that Morris was coming at McGhee. There was no gunshot residue found on Morris’ clothing nor did an autopsy find burns from the muzzle on his clothes or body.
Additionally, McCavitt said even McGhee’s actions didn’t follow with a man who believed a shooting was justified. He didn’t call the police and also left the scene.
Just after 10:15 p.m. that night, officers were called to the Lexington Hills apartment complex on a report of a shooting. When they arrived, they found a man who suffered a graze wound to his back. Morris, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to his chest.
A text thread from a woman who lived with McGhee seemed to indicate that she was upset that Morris had been texting her. He showed up at her apartment, then the dispute escalated and shots were fired, according to court records.
WMBD TV first report on this story. You can read the original story online at CIProud.com.
