Peoria Standard

On May 30, 2024, a Peoria County jury found Gary Irby, 22, guilty of First Degree Murder for the shooting death of Jerry Snipes Jr., 17, in the fall of 2021. The jury deliberated for approximately an hour before reaching their verdict. Testimony revealed that Snipes was shot ten times, with most shots fired into his back. Nine shots were from a handgun and one from a shotgun, indicating involvement by two individuals.

At around 4:40 am on October 6, 2021, police responded to reports of gunfire in the 2800 block of N. Linn Street. Officers discovered Snipes lying on the ground with multiple bullet wounds; he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. During the three-day trial, prosecutors presented GPS monitoring data, surveillance video, and witness testimony placing both Irby and Jeremy Moore Jr., 21, at the scene during the murder. A witness testified seeing both men armed moments before the shooting—Irby with a handgun and Moore with a shotgun.

Moore was convicted last September of First Degree Murder and sentenced in February to 80 years in prison. Tyranique White, 20, has also been charged in connection with the case and is scheduled for her next court appearance next month.

Because Irby was found to have personally discharged a firearm during the incident, he faces up to a life sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections. His sentencing is set for August 2.