On a Sunday night in early January, Rachel Tarrence stopped in the drive-thru lane of an East St. Louis liquor store to buy cigarettes for a friend who sat beside her. Her 4-year-old son was strapped in his car seat in the back.

A Champaign man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting a man over an argument at a family gathering remembering his stepson who was killed recently. 

A man was injured when he accidentally discharged a firearm early this morning. 

A 20-year-old man is hospitalized and in stable condition. No arrests have been made at this time.

Each week, News-Gazette courts reporter Luke Taylor will assemble a bulletin of recent criminal activity reported by area police agencies.

A jury spent four hours in deliberation before returning the verdict, informing 18-year-old Samuel Garcia that he was not guilty of any of four counts of attempted murder. 

If she is convicted, the maximum penalties for Carol Ammons’ eight counts of wire fraud include up to 20 years in prison; the same is true of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Making a false statement can lead to up to five years in prison.

Kevin P. Pettis, 54, Champaign, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.