Peoria Standard

August 23, 2024, Peoria, IL – On Wednesday, a Peoria County Judge granted the State’s Petition to Transfer a minor previously charged with Unlawful Use of Weapons and Mob Action to Adult Court. Marshawn L. Smith, 17, will now be charged as an adult for Unlawful Use of Weapons, Mob Action, and Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property. The State’s Petition to Detain Smith was granted during today’s detention hearing, meaning he will remain in custody until trial.

Around 3 pm on June 27, while officers were conducting surveillance on Smith, they saw him leave a residence in the South End, get into the passenger seat of a vehicle, and drive away. Police followed the vehicle to a business in the 1300 block of W. Northmoor in Peoria, where Smith was taken into custody. During a search of the vehicle, a loaded handgun was found partially under the front passenger seat where Smith was sitting. The gun was loaded and equipped with a “switch” that converts it to a fully automatic weapon.

Around 8 am on July 20, deputies responded to the Juvenile Detention Center on a riot that had broken out. Employees reported to deputies that Smith and several other detainees were breaking items in the living area, including windows, computer monitors, and communications radios. The incident was also captured on surveillance video which showed Smith resisting employees and running around breaking items. One employee was taken to the hospital as a result.

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