A 41-year-old Peoria man was found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday in the 2024 shooting in the East Bluff neighborhood.
David Stone was convicted of killing Arlin Bermudez-Castellon following a three-day bench trial before Peoria County Circuit Judge Steve Kouri. Bermudez-Castellon, 34, was shot seven times, with several shots striking him in the back.
The shooting on the afternoon of Jan. 4 was Peoria’s first homicide in 2024. Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 200 block of East Thrush Avenue, finding Bermudez-Castellon with the multiple gunshot wounds.
According to a news release from the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office, evidence presented by prosecutors included jail phone calls with Stone admitting to being at the scene. He said he was there alongside Mikeal Williams to collect money he said Bermudez-Castellon owed him.
The situation escalated, and Williams fired the fatal shots at the victim, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors also presented text messages from the day before when Stone threatened Bermudez-Castellon, as well as surveillance video from a local business showing Stone picking up Williams before the murder and the two fleeing the scene together.
Stone was convicted of the murder under Illinois’ accountability law that allows a person to be held responsible for a crime if they help plan or assist in committing it.
Stone’s sentencing is set for Dec. 10. A first-degree murder case against Williams is pending; he remains in custody in Texas, awaiting extradition to Illinois.
