A Peoria man was found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday for shooting another man multiple times in the back at a Center Bluff gas station in 2023.
The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office says jurors returned a guilty verdict in the trial of Amorata Nelson, 27, who was accused of killing Antonio Hardy, 33.
Hardy was filling up his vehicle at the Coopers station near the intersection of Sheridan and McClure when the incident occurred on Sept. 18, 2023. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert around 8 p.m. and found Hardy lying on his back and bleeding heavily. He was pronounced dead a short time later at a local hospital.
Footage of the shooting from surveillance video was shown to the jury during the three-day trial. Hardy is seen arriving at the station, entering the building to pre-pay for the fuel, and returning to the pump. Nelson exits the passenger side of another vehicle, approaches Hardy from behind, and shoots him three times in the back.
After the victim falls to the ground, Nelson shoots him once more in the head.
A witness who was a passenger in the vehicle with Nelson testified he went into the store while the defendant remained in the car. While he was in the store, he heard gunfire and when he came out, Nelson had left the area.
Shell casings found at the scene were determined to be from the same firearm. Cell phone data verified both Hardy and Nelson were at the gas station at the same time when the shooting took place.
A sentencing hearing for Nelson is scheduled for Dec. 17.
