Jermel M. Hedrick, a 24-year-old African American man, was fatally shot on October 25, 2014, in Champaign, Illinois. Officers answered reports of gunfire around 3:55 a.m. and found Hedrick inside a parked truck, mortally wounded outside a house where a party was taking place. Investigators recovered individually wrapped bags of cocaine and heroin at the scene.

The Champaign Police Department logged more than 500 investigative hours on the case. On March 11, 2015, 28-year-old Robert E. Williams of Champaign was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. On April 17, 2015, 39-year-old Curtis T. Hairston of Champaign was also arrested in connection with Hedrick’s murder. The investigation remained active and authorities asked anyone with information to come forward.