A teenager is dead after a shooting in Peoria on Monday afternoon.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood says 15-year-old Merian Smith was pronounced dead at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Wednesday morning after he was shot Monday in the 500 block of West Gift.
A total of 21 rounds fired were recorded by ShotSpotter. Another juvenile suffered non life-threatening injuries in the incident.
"Child deaths are difficult, but when a child dies because of gun violence, it is even more heartbreaking. I am saddened by this event, for him, and his grieving family," Harwood said.
An autopsy on Smith will follow organ donation later his week.
There are no identified suspects in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call Peoria police at (309) 494-8480, text tip411 anonymously, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at (309) 673-9000.
This is Peoria's 23rd homicide of 2022.
