Bloomington man faces gun charge as shooting remains under investigation

Posted on August 5, 2016

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Police say they have arrested a Bloomington man on a weapons charge as authorities consider whether there could be any link to a shooting that left three people injured earlier this week.

Police spokeswoman Sara Mayer said officers with the Bloomington SWAT team and its criminal investigative division served a warrant at a home in the 900 block of West Washington Street on Friday morning, but they say they have not determined whether there is any connection with that shooting.

Derrick Blakely, 21, was jailed on a charge of having a gun without a valid Firearm Owners Identification card.

Police were called to the area of Washington and Howard streets early Monday morning after a report of shots fired. Two men, ages 19 and 43, were shot in the arm. A 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg. None of the injuries were considered life threatening.

Mayer said there are no suspects in the shooting and the investigation is ongoing.

Eric Stock 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…