A Peoria man charged in the deaths of two men during a string of criminal violence early Saturday will remain in custody until his trial begins.
The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged Karon Hopkins, 20, with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Malik Pickett near the Vibes nightclub on the South Side, and reckless homicide for striking pedestrian Gary Traylor with a vehicle while fleeing the scene.
During a detention hearing Friday, prosecutors showed surveillance footage from both portions of the combined incident. The video showed Hopkins exit a sedan that had stopped on the street outside the club with several people gathered in the area shortly before 3 a.m.
He ran up to Pickett and allegedly fired several shots, continuing to fire with the victim on the ground, before getting back in the car and speeding away down Howett Street.
The vehicle topped 90 mph through a residential area, running a red light at Western Avenue and striking Traylor before crashing into a utility pole.
Pickett, 26, was shot more than 10 times and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Traylor, 52, suffered extreme injuries and died at the scene of the crash.
Hopkins and another occupant of the vehicle, 18-year-old Dorrean Ellis, were taken to the hospital after the crash. Hopkins was released into police custody on Thursday, while Ellis remains hospitalized.
The investigation is ongoing and the state’s attorney’s office says additional charges are expected.
