Peoria Standard

Today, the Peoria County State’s Attorney's office charged two teenagers in connection with recent shootings in central Peoria. Christopher Polnitz Cleary, 19, faces two counts of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm and three counts of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The State’s Petition to Detain was granted for Cleary, and he will remain in custody until trial. Camarion Puryear, 18, has been charged with Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The State’s Petition to Detain was denied for Puryear, and the court released him from custody.

Around 9 pm on June 7, police responded to a Shot Spotter alert in the 700 block of E. Frye Avenue. No one was injured; however, two vehicles were struck by gunfire, and 63 shell casings were recovered. Detectives identified a blue Dodge Caliber as a suspect vehicle during the investigation.

At approximately 6:50 pm on June 9, Peoria Police responded to another Shot Spotter alert in the 900 block of W. Hanssler Place. Again, no injuries were reported; however, a home and vehicle were struck by gunfire, and 51 shell casings were recovered. Detectives once more identified a blue Dodge Caliber as a suspect vehicle.

Cleary and Puryear were taken into custody near the suspect vehicle on Wednesday. A search of the vehicle yielded two guns and a drum magazine. Cleary admitted that both the car and one of the guns belonged to him. Shell casings from both recovered guns matched those found at the scenes of both shootings on June 7 and June 9.

These investigations are ongoing. If you have information regarding these incidents, please contact the Peoria Police Department at 309-673-4521.