Case No. 07-CF-111			Case No. 07-CF-825
Gabriel Shelton, 21	Demarco Spencer, 25	Jackie Lee Williams Jr, 22	Katisha Warfield, 26

CASE SYNOPSIS:  Three defendants were indicted by a Peoria County Grand Jury Tuesday, February 20, 2007, for the 1/25/07 murder of David McCreary.  McCreary was gunned down in the doorway of his home in the 2500 block of W. Marquette Street, the victim of an apparent robbery attempt.  Shelton and Spencer have each been charged with one count of First Degree Murder and one count of Attempted Robbery.  Williams, the alleged shooter, is charged with three counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Attempted Robbery.

On 1/25/07 Shelton, Spencer and Williams went to McCreary's home to buy drugs. Shelton drove the group to McCreary's home in the 2500 block of W. Marquette Street.  Upon arrival, Williams and Spencer went to the front door.  When McCreary answered the door, there was a commotion between Williams, Spencer and McCreary and McCreary was shot.  McCreary later died as a result of his injuries.   Read the Grand Jury Indictment.

The Defendants each remain in the Peoria County Jail, bond $2.5 million dollars. Under Illinois felony murder provisions, the defendants are eligible for the death penalty if the State elects to pursue it.  The state did not pursue the death penalty.

CASE UPDATE:  A fourth defendant, Katisha Warfield, has been charged with First Degree Murder and Attempted Robbery in the death of David McCreary. On Friday, July 27, Warfield was arrested in Chicago on a Grand Jury Indictment Warrant for her role in McCreary's murder.  Warfield is alleged to have arranged the drug deal with McCreary and accompanied Spencer, Shelton and Williams when the murder occurred. Warfield is being charged under Peoria County Case No. 07-CF-825.  Warfield's bond has been set at $2 million dollars.  

• Katisha Warfield plead guilty to Attempted Armed Robbery 10/29/07. The charge of First Degree Murder was dismissed as part of her plea agreement. On 10/31/07 Katisha Warfield was sentenced to 12 years in prison for her role in the murder of David McCreary.

• Demarco Spencer was found guilty of Murder 2/15/08 at the conclusion of his jury trial. His sentencing date is 4/25/08.

• Gabriel Shelton and Jackie Williams, Jr. have jury trials pending.

• April 17, 2007: At the conclusion of his jury trial, Gabriel Shelton was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of attempted armed robbery.

DEMARCO SPENCER

2/15/08 - The Jury Trial Ended with a Guilty Verdict for Demarco Spencer. Spencer faces 20-60 or Life in prison when sentenced April 25, 2008.

4/25/08 - The Honorable Michael E. Brandt sentenced Demarco Spencer to 44 years in the Department of Corrections.

Schedule of Events:

• 04/25/08 01:00p.m. Sentencing Hearing (Defendant Sentenced to 44 years in prison)

• 02/15/08 09:00a.m. Jury Trial Concludes (Defendant Found Guilty of First Degree Murder)

• 02/11/08 09:15a.m. Jury Trial

• 01/28/08 01:00p.m. Scheduling Conference

• 11/19/07 09:15a.m. Jury Trial (Date vacated)

• 11/09/09 01:00p.m. Scheduling Conference

• 07/23/07 09:15a.m. Jury Trial

• 07/13/07 01:00p.m. Scheduling Conference

• 04/30/07 09:15a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

JACKIE WILLIAMS, JR.

Schedule of Events:

• 07/07/08 09:00a.m. Motion Hearing

• 07/02/08 01:15p.m. Sentencing Hearing (Defendant Sentenced to LIFE in prison.)

• 04/30/08 Jury Trial Concludes (Defendant Found Guilty of First Degree Murder and Attempted Armed Robbery)

• 04/30/08 10:00a.m. Jury Trial Continues

• 04/29/08 09:00a.m. Jury Trial Continues

• 04/28/08 09:00a.m. Jury Trial Commenced

• 04/18/08 09:00a.m. Scheduling Conference

• 01/28/08 09:00a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

• 01/18/08 09:00a.m. Scheduling Conference

• 12/10/07 WRIT HABEAS CORPUS

• 12/04/07 WRIT HABEAS CORPUS

• 12/03/07 09:00a.m. Jury Trial

• 11/06/07 Motion Granted

• 11/06/07 09:00a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

• 11/05/07 11:00a.m. Motion Hearing

• 11/05/07 09:00a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

• 10/26/07 09:00a.m. Scheduling Conference

• 07/30/07 09:00a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

• 07/20/07 09:00a.m. Scheduling Conference

• 04/30/07 09:15a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

GABRIEL SHELTON

4/17/08 - The Jury Trial Ended with a Not Guilty Verdict on the Murder Charge for Gabriel Shelton.  Shelton was found Guilty of Attempted Armed Robbery.  Shelton faces up to 30 years in prison when sentenced June 20, 2008.

Schedule of Events:

6/24/08 - Shelton was sentenced to 26 years in prison.

• 06/24/08 Notice of Appeal

• 06/24/08 01:00p.m. Motion Hearing (Motion Denied)

• 06/20/08 09:15a.m. Sentencing Hearing (Defendant was sentenced to 26 years in prison.)

• 04/17/08 Jury Trial Concluded (Gabriel Shelton was found Not Guilty of Murder: Guilty of Attempted Armed Robbery)

• 04/15/08 09:00a.m. Continue Jury Trial

• 04/14/08 09:15a.m. Jury Trial (Jury Trial Underway)

• 04/04/08 01:00p.m. Scheduling Conference

• 01/22/08 09:15a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

• 01/11/08 01:00p.m. Scheduling Conference

• 11/19/07 09:15a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

• 11/09/07 01:00p.m. Scheduling Conference

• 07/23/07 09:15a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

• 07/13/07 01:00p.m. Scheduling Conference

• 04/30/07 09:15a.m. Jury Trial (Date Vacated)

Peoria County Courthouse, 324 Main Street, Courtroom 221, Peoria, the Honorable Michael E. Brandt presiding.   

KATISHA WARFIELD 07-CF-825

Schedule of Events:

• 10/31/07 Judge Sentenced Defendant (Katisha Warfield was sentenced to 12 years in prison.)

• 10/31/07 11:00a.m. Review

• 10/29/07 09:00a.m. Plea Hearing

• 10/26/07 09:00a.m. Review

• 10/19/07 09:00a.m. Review

• 10/15/07 09:00a.m. Jury Trial

• 10/05/07 09:00a.m. Scheduling Conference

• 08/02/07 01:15p.m. Arraignment

• 08/01/07 Jail Warrant Served

• 07/27/07 Defendant in Custody out of County

• 07/24/07 Indictment Warrant (Bond set $2,000,000)

Peoria County Courthouse, 324 Main Street, Courtroom 222, Peoria, the Honorable Stuart P. Borden presiding.   

Victim:

David McCreary

Back