A 10-year-old fatally shot Sunday night in South Peoria was an innocent bystander caught in the gunfire ensuing after an apparent botched robbery.
That's according to the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office. Maurice D. Sargent, 33, was allegedly involved in a cannabis deal with two teenagers at the CityScape Apartments on R.B. Garrett Avenue when they attempted to rob him.
Prosecutors say Sargent fired a gun after the deal went bad, and a stray round struck Torres L. Johnson II in the chest as he was walking nearby. Johnson, who wasn't involved in the drug deal, was pronounced dead at an area hospital just after 8 p.m.
Sargent is now charged with Johnson's murder. He also is accused of being an armed habitual criminal. That's a charge reserved for repeat convicted felony offenders. Sargent has a lengthy criminal record.
A 14-year-old also is charged with attempted armed robbery in connection with the case.
The state is filing to hold Sargent in pretrial detention. A Peoria County judge will weigh that petition Friday.
Johnson is the city's seventh homicide victim in September. There is a fund at Busey Bank established to collect donations for his funeral expenses. Services are set for Friday, Oct. 11.
