PEORIA, IL – A seemingly routine Facebook Marketplace vehicle sale in Peoria, Illinois, turned fatal on January 15, 2024, culminating in a death.
According to the Peoria Police Department, officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 2100 block of West Lincoln Avenue at 5:04 pm, where they discovered a male victim with a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigations revealed that the incident stemmed from an attempted robbery during the supposed vehicle sale from Facebook Marketplace.
Two individuals, who had arrived in Peoria for the transaction, were ambushed in an alley by armed suspects. The encounter led to an exchange of gunfire, resulting in the death of one suspect. A 27-year-old suspect, Sontarrius D. Williams, was later arrested in connection with the armed robbery. Additionally, 18-year-old Jaylyn J. Branscumb was detained on January 25, further linked to the crime.
The Peoria Police Department is urging the community to be vigilant during online marketplace transactions, recommending conducting them in well-lit, public spaces or at police stations. The department continues to seek information on this and other violent crimes.
