Peoria Standard

Last week, Amari Smith-Holley, 16, was charged with Aggravated Battery with a Firearm for a shooting where an 18-year-old male was shot at a post-prom party in Chillicothe this past April. Due to Smith-Holley’s age and the charge, it is an automatic transfer to adult court. Today, a detention hearing was held, and the State’s Petition to Detain was granted, meaning he will remain in custody at the Juvenile Detention Center until trial.

Just before 1 am on April 28, 2024, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Valley Lakes Center on a report of shots fired. When deputies arrived, they found a male lying on the ground in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the head. The victim survived but is paralyzed on half of his body. Deputies identified the victim as a member of the group “Jump Out Boys” and that they were feuding with another group known as the “Snakes.” In a combined effort with the Peoria Police Department, detectives used witness information and data from Smith-Holley’s cell phone and iCloud account to connect him to the shooting.

This investigation is ongoing. If you have information regarding this incident, please contact Detective Demery from Peoria County Sherriff’s Office at 309-216-4775.