The Peoria County State's Attorney's Office won't press charges against a 31-year-old Peoria man recently arrested after his brother was fatally stabbed.
The state's attorney's office said the evidence backs up Jeremy Barnett's claim of self-defense. Police were called four times over a 24-hour stretch leading up to the death about problems between 37-year-old Denarius Barnett of West Peoria and several of his family members. The elder Barnett was reportedly drunk and aggressive.
He was asked to leave multiple homes. Upon showing up at a residence in the 1000 block of W. Virginia Ave. on Tuesday night, Denarius got into a fight with his younger brother.
The state's attorney's office said Denarius threw Jeremy to the ground and choked him. They said scratches and wounds on Jeremy's neck backed up that claim.
Jeremy then grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed his brother, prosecutors said. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Denarius Barnett was stabbed once and likely died within seconds.
