Dear campus community member:

We would like to provide you with more information regarding the Illini-Alert messages you received earlier this evening. The Champaign Police Department has released the following details:

At about 9:48 p.m. Wednesday night, police responded to the area of First and Green streets, Champaign, after receiving reports of shots fired. A 41-year-old Champaign woman was taken to the hospital for a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The suspect in the shooting, a 21-year-old man, arrived at the hospital with a non-life threatening gunshot wound about 90 minutes later. Neither of the individuals involved is a U. of I. student.

Preliminary evidence suggests that the shooting was the result of a domestic altercation which took place inside an apartment.

Investigators continue to process evidence and interview potential witnesses to learn more about the altercation and the shooting incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Champaign Police Department at 217-351-4545. Information may be submitted anonymously by calling Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477, online at 373tips.com or by texting “CCTIP” plus the information to 274637 (CRIMES).

While this appears to be an isolated incident, this once again is an unambiguous reminder that no community is immune from gun violence. The University of Illinois Police Department is working closely with our community partners – including the Champaign Police Department, Urbana Police Department, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, and others – to systematically identify violent offenders and the people they associate with. Through initiatives like our Street Crimes Task Force and C-U Fresh Start program, we believe we have already prevented instances of gun violence in our greater community, and we will continue with those efforts.

Tonight’s incident also reminds us that domestic violence persists in our campus community and beyond. Whether you have experienced domestic violence yourself or you wish to support someone who has, we encourage everyone to research the resources available at wecare.illinois.edu. There is help available in our community whenever those affected are ready to seek it out.

We once again ask our campus members to pull together and to look out for each other. Our collective safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we thank you for being an active participant in the well-being of our community.

Sincerely,

Jeff Christensen

Chief of Police

University of Illinois Police Department