Champaign Teen, 16, Killed in Shooting That Left Another, 17, in Critical Condition

A 16-year-old boy died Monday night after two teenagers were shot in Champaign, and a 17-year-old remains in critical but stable condition at a local hospital. No arrests have been made.

"Tragically, the 16-year-old victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital."

That is what the Champaign Police Department said in a news release Tuesday about the shooting that happened at approximately 9:31 p.m. on June 15, 2026, near the intersection of North McKinley Avenue and Paula Drive.

A community knows both victims

Willie Comer, a Champaign anti-violence advocate, said he has known both victims since they were in sixth grade. He said he saw them just days before the shooting.

"I grabbed the 17-year-old and was laughing and joking with him and saying 'This is where I expect you to be,' at that time, the 16-year-old had left," said Comer. "Is there something I could have said to him Friday that could have changed the outcome of Monday?"

Police on scene for hours

Champaign Police were dispatched to the area after receiving a report of a shooting with injuries. Officers arrived to find the 17-year-old with potentially life-threatening gunshot wounds to the torso. They were then notified that a second victim might be nearby.

Officers searched the area and found the 16-year-old a half block north in the 1500 block of N. McKinley Avenue. With assistance from the Champaign Fire Department, officers administered emergency medical aid to both victims. Both were transported to a local hospital.

Police remained in the area for several hours to collect evidence. The investigation is ongoing.

Crime Stoppers offers rewards

The department asked anyone with information to contact investigators. Tips can be submitted through multiple channels:

• Champaign Police Department: 217-351-4545
• Champaign County Crime Stoppers: 217-373-8477
• Online: 373tips.com
• Mobile app: P3 Tips

According to the city of Champaign, Crime Stoppers will pay cash rewards of:

• $5,000 for tips that lead to an arrest in any homicide case
• $2,500 for tips leading to an arrest in a felony crime involving a firearm
• Up to $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for any other crime

The department noted that tips submitted through Crime Stoppers are completely anonymous. Calls are routed to a third-party national call center. Caller ID tracking is not utilized and conversations are not recorded.

Residents and businesses in the area with exterior surveillance cameras were encouraged to notify the police department.

A pattern of gun violence in Champaign

This is not the first recent shooting in Champaign. On June 6, 2026, a Champaign teen was killed in an overnight shooting, according to a Champaign Police Facebook post. The victim was identified as Trai'Vvone A. Wesley, age 16, according to the Gun Violence Archive memorial page.

On May 24, 2026, police responded to multiple reports of gunshots in the 500-block of East Grove Street in Champaign, according to a NewsChannel 20 report. No injuries were reported in that incident.