Steven B. Rieker County Board District 15 | Peoria County
Steven B. Rieker County Board District 15 | Peoria County
On June 27, 2025, Deandre T. Ward was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for shooting his ex-girlfriend in July 2024. The incident left her paralyzed from the waist down.
During the sentencing hearing, the victim shared how her life has been severely impacted. She explained that she now requires assistance for basic daily tasks and is dependent on a friend for care. She also experiences constant pain, needs daily medication, and has been hospitalized multiple times over the past year.
Ward apologized to the victim during the hearing and accepted full responsibility for his actions. He requested that the court not judge him solely based on this incident. Despite his apology, the judge highlighted that the victim's life has been irreversibly changed by what happened.
The shooting took place in July 2024 when police responded to a report of a shooting on E. Virginia Street. Officers found a 22-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her lower back. Video evidence showed that after an altercation involving another woman, Ward shot the victim as she was running away.
In April, Ward pleaded guilty to Aggravated Battery with a Firearm and is required to serve at least 85% of his sentence.
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