PEORIA -- An armed robbery gone wrong is likely to blame for the shooting death of a 16-year-old in Peoria’s East Bluff on Wednesday evening.
Peoria Police Chief Loren Marion says 18-year-old Doyle Eugene Nelson of Peoria and a fourteen-year-old male were arrested in connection with the shooting death of Zarious Fair of Peoria in the 700 block of East Frye.
Fair was found in a driveway with three gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen and pelvis. He died at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center about 15 minutes later. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said he died from rapid and traumatic blood loss.
The suspects were arrested at a residence in the 2300 block of North Delaware about two hours after the shooting. Chief Marion credits his officers and community involvement for the suspects’ quick arrests.
“The community’s involvement helped out. This shows when the community steps up and gets involved, that that helps us do our job, and we can get a successful resolution quickly in these cases," he said.
Marion said the fourteen-year-old is believed to be the shooter. It is unknown how the teenager may have gotten a gun. Marion said he believes this was an isolated incident, and does not think there will be any retaliatory shootings.
“It is a senseless tragic incident that will more than likely result in the loss of three young lives. One being deceased, and the other two going to prison for a significant amount of time," said Marion.
The teenager is being held in juvenile detention. Nelson is being held in the Peoria County Jail.