A Peoria County jury has convicted a 19-year-old man of second-degree murder in the 2023 fatal shooting outside a Peoria liquor store.
Jared R. Williams had faced first-degree murder charges in the death of Mason Loy, 21, of Havana.
During the two-day trial, Williams admitted to the shooting, but testified that he acted out of fear for his life because Loy had made prior threats to kill him and his family.
According to the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office, surveillance video captured the shooting and indicated Williams, who was 17 at the time, instigated the fatal confrontation in the liquor store parking lot.
Prosecutors pursued the first-degree charge for that reason, but included the lesser offense of second-degree murder for the jury because of the previous threats.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 21.
