Aubrae M. Harper, 45, has pleaded guilty to Aggravated Battery with a Firearm in connection with a shooting that took place in South Peoria in April 2024. The incident left the victim with multiple gunshot wounds and two bullets still lodged in his body.
According to authorities, on the evening of April 6, 2024, the victim was dropped off in the 800 block of S. Western Avenue. As he walked away, Harper approached him, demanded money, and shot him three times. The victim sustained injuries to his arm, abdomen, and buttocks.
After being shot, the victim contacted a family member for transportation to the hospital. Hospital staff then notified police about the gunshot wounds. Days later, the victim identified Harper as the shooter.
As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to cap Harper’s prison sentence at a maximum of 25 years—five years below the statutory maximum for this offense. Sentencing is set for April 22, 2026.
Peoria County schools reported an average student-to-teacher ratio of 15-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, with over 27,000 students enrolled and more than 1,800 full-time faculty members across local schools (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx). Teacher absenteeism stood at 32.3% during that period—lower than Illinois’ statewide average of 35.6% (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx). Among area schools, Peoria High School had the highest enrollment of Black students with nearly 800 students (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx), while Dunlap High School recorded the largest number of white students at over 870 (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx). Richwoods High School led in multiracial student enrollment and Lincoln School had the most Hispanic students among county schools (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx).
“Today, Aubrae M. Harper, 45, pleaded guilty to Aggravated Battery with a Firearm for shooting a man in South Peoria in April 2024. The victim survived being shot multiple times but still has two bullets lodged in his body. In exchange for Harper’s guilty plea, the state agreed to a maximum possible prison sentence of 25 years, which is just five years below the maximum.”
“On the evening of April 6, 2024, the victim was dropped off in the 800 block of S. Western Avenue. As the victim was walking away, Harper approached, demanded money, and shot him three times. The victim was struck in the arm, the side of his abdomen, and the buttocks. Two bullets remain lodged in his arm and buttocks.”
“After the shooting, the victim called a family member for a ride to the hospital where staff alerted police to the gunshot victim. Days later,the victim identified Harper asthe person who shot him.”
“Sentencing for this case is scheduled for April22 ,2026.”
