Cordell Johnson, a 25-year-old African American man from Cairo, Illinois, was shot and killed in Carbondale in the early hours of January 22, 2020. Police responded to reports of shots fired in the 2200 block of North Illinois Avenue about 12:20 a.m. and found Johnson unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. Responding officers, Jackson County Ambulance and the Carbondale Fire Department attempted life-saving measures, but Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say the shooting grew out of a dispute among acquaintances that escalated into an altercation and gunfire. Two men were arrested in connection with the incident: 23-year-old Alecze Cummings of Carbondale and 26-year-old Cameron Robinson of Cairo. Cummings was charged with cannabis conspiracy and obstructing justice; Robinson was charged with cannabis conspiracy and aggravated fleeing to elude. Both were being held at the Jackson County Jail as the investigation continued.

Anyone who has information about what led to the altercation or the shooting is asked to contact the Carbondale Police Department.