Peoria Standard

July 29, 2024, Peoria, IL – Last week, Korion Hopkins, 18, was charged with First Degree Murder for the shooting and killing of MikeQuese Taylor, 18, in the East Bluff on April 30. A detention hearing was held today, and the State’s Petition to Detain was granted. Hopkins has been in custody on a separate case since last month and will remain in custody until trial on both cases.

Around 7:30 pm on April 30, police responded to the 100 block of E. Forrest Hill after officers in the area heard shots fired. Officers found Taylor with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Surveillance footage from the area and a witness to the incident placed Taylor outside by his car when two males wearing masks approached and shot him. It was also reported that Taylor’s car had previously been shot at and that he had been a member of a group known as the “Jump Out Boys.”

Messiah Carpenter, 20, has previously been charged in this case. Based on surveillance video, officers were able to identify a suspect vehicle, and it was discovered that Carpenter was in possession of that vehicle at the time of the shooting. Additional surveillance footage, along with cell phone records, show Hopkins and Carpenter traveling together at the time of the shooting in that vehicle.

This investigation is ongoing. If you have information regarding this incident, please contact the Peoria Police Department at 309-673-4521.

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