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Contact: Lieutenant Amy Dotson, Peoria Police - Patrol Operations
Phone: 309-210-4577
Email: adotson@peoriagov.org
Homicide - UPDATE Below (Arrest)
PPD Incident #26-60035 & 26-60036
Previously released (8/22/26):
(PEORIA, IL) On Saturday, August 22, 2026, at approximately 2:45 a.m., Peoria Police officers were near the 1400 block of SW Jefferson Street when they heard shots fired nearby. As they approached the noted location, they observed a vehicle fleeing the area and, at that time, attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
At the same time, officers received a ShotSpotter alert indicating that 20 rounds had been fired from the same location.
Additional officers responded to the area and located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital. A short time later, he was pronounced deceased.
As the suspect vehicle fled the area, it struck an adult male pedestrian near Western and Howett. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The vehicle then crashed into a utility pole. The driver and passenger of the fleeing vehicle, both adult males, were transported to a local hospital for treatment. One is currently listed in critical condition, while the other is listed in serious condition. A firearm was recovered from the vehicle by responding officers.
The identities of both deceased victims, as well as their official causes of death, will be released by the Peoria County Coroner’s Office.
During the investigation, officers learned that an adult male arrived at a local hospital by private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the leg. The victim reported that he sustained the injury in the 1400 block of SW Jefferson Street. His injuries are considered non-life-threatening.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation with members of the Peoria Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Crime Scene Unit (CSU), and Patrol Unit responded to the scene and initiated a homicide investigation. The Illinois State Police are conducting the crash investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Peoria Police Department at (309) 673-4521, tip411 (anonymous), or Crime Stoppers at (309) 673-9000 or Illinois State Police Zone 4 Investigations at (217) 782-4750.
**All suspects and arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. **
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UPDATE
On August 27, 2026, 20-year-old Karon Hopkins was released from a local hospital and transported to the Peoria Police Department Criminal Investigations Division for interview purposes.
Hopkins was subsequently arrested for First-Degree Murder, Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, and Aggravated Battery.
The crash portion of the investigation remains on-going by ISP investigators.
Hopkins was transported to the Peoria County Jail.
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