MONDAY September 26, 2016
THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 146 Issue 11
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AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI
Police officers investigate what happened after a shooting that took place early Sunday morning.
IT HAPPENED HERE
How two incidents of gun violence changed what was supposed to be an ordinary night 12:38 a.m.
BY CLAIRE HETTINGER, JOSEPH
Shooting occurs between Third LONGO, SAMANTHA JONES TOAL NEWS EDITOR and Fourth streets on Green Editor’s note: Camille Baer is an Illini Street Media Company employee. Her testi-
12:52 a.m. First Illini-Alert says a shooting occurred between Third and Fourth streets
Police receive reports of additional gunshot in the 700 block of South State Street
1:23 a.m. Illini-Alert says shooter has left the area
As of print Suspect is still at large
W Springfield Ave
State St Shooting W John St S State St
6:46 a.m. Illini-Alert says emergency has ended
E John St
S Neil St
4:01 a.m. Illini-Alert says shooter is out of campus district
E Green St S Fourth St
1:08 a.m.
Green St Shooting
S Third St
1:02 a.m. Victim is pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital
pened,” Flanagan said. “She was laying on the ground. Everyone (was) running around.” The victim of the hit-and-run got up. “This girl (was) crying ... her nose was bleeding,” Flanagan said. *** On a nearby street, Baer’s friend was on hold with the police. Almost 10 minutes passed. Baer held the man’s injured arm up against a wall. His arm continued to bleed. As they waited for the ambulance, she told him not to move. But he raised his shaking arm to point a half block in the distance. “That’s my apartment right over there,” the man said. After he left in the ambulance and she knew he would be OK, Baer showed the police where they saw the man. “He was just a random person walking by. He had a takeout bag,” Baer said. As she headed home, she noticed the blood all over her. “I went to Chopstix to wash the blood off my hands,” she said. *** Meanwhile, from above, Maryam Bassiri watched the commotion from her apartment building, as the cops herded
S Second St
mony was included because she was an eyewitness in the events that follow. Camille Baer and a friend lagged behind their group walking back to Campustown. But not by too much. “We wanted to be safe,” the University freshman recalled. They were coming from The Pygmalion Festival in downtown Champaign after midnight when they approached the Evergreen Tobacco building. She turned around to see what looked like 70 people running and screaming. Then, the sound of six or seven gunshots filled the early Sunday morning air. “I just ducked, I just crouched into a ball,” Baer said. “Then I saw people running and I was like, ‘What am I doing? I should be running.’” As she got up, a man approached her and her friend. He was gushing blood. “Can you please call 911? Please, please help me,” the man said. *** Bianca Sage was standing in the beer garden at The Red Lion. She and some friends had come outside because it wasn’t fun
inside. There was no music playing, and it was quiet. Without warning, she and the other people were pushed inside the bar and were not allowed to leave. After a few minutes, they were ushered into a back alley. “They were putting us out there not knowing where the shooter (was),” she said. “It was definitely scary not knowing if you were just passing the shooter on the street or not.” *** On Green Street, Kathryn Lawler was taking a Snapchat to document her 23rd birthday celebration. Just as she started recording, gunshots rang out in the background. *** At 12:38 a.m., gunshots were fired in the 300 block of Green Street. An altercation at a party near Evergreen Tobacco led to a gunfight that killed one person and wounded three others. After the gunshots, Lawler and John-Michael McMahon started running. Another friend, Megan Flanagan, hit the ground. “I have never seen so many people panic at once,” McMahon said. “It was just kind of like everyone did what they could to get shelter.” One person ran across the street. “I saw her get hit by a car. I thought something really bad hap-
W Charles St
SEE PERSPECTIVES | 3A
For more coverage, see 4A
Editorial: When reality hits, students can’t go numb AUSTIN YATTONI THE DAILY ILLINI
Police cars and fire trucks gather on Green Street outside of Evergreen Tobacco after a shooting that took place early Sunday morning.
Weekend shootings shock campus; UIPD still in search of gunman Korchev was not involved in the fight that resulted in the gunfire. The Champaign Police Department believes an argument occurred at an apartment party on the 300 block of East Green Street in Champaign. The argument moved outside, leading to a fight and shots fired. The gunfire struck Korchev and three others who were walking by. A fifth person was struck by a car while fleeing the gunfire. The victims were taken to hos-
THE DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT
One man was killed and five others were injured overnight when shots were fired on Green Street and State Street early Sunday morning. George Korchev, who was visiting from Mundelein, was pronounced dead at 1:02 a.m. at Carle Foundation Hospital. He was identified by Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup. He was 22 years old and did not attend the University.
pitals nearby and sustained minor and non-critical injuries. At 1:08 a.m., police received reports of additional gunfire in the 700 block of South State Street in Champaign. One victim was then taken to the hospital for non-critical injuries. Investigators believe the two incidents are related. The police are still seeking the suspects involved in the shootings. As for the pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle, the driver of
that vehicle, who was also fleeing from gunfire, has come forward, according to the press release. The police are asking that anyone at the party or witnesses to the events please contact the Champaign Police Investigations Division at police@champaignil. gov or phone 217-351-4545. Anonymous tips can be left at 217-373-8477, online at www.373tips.com or by texting “CCTIP” plus the crime information to 274637 (CRIMES).
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of those person(s) responsible for these crimes. The area from Healey to Green streets and from Second to Fourth streets was blocked off after the shootings as the Champaign Police Department investigated. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and our
SEE SHOOTINGS | 3A
Officials react to campus gun violence In remembrance of George Korchev CHANCELLOR ROBERT JONES
“Today we need to come together to help those who have been harmed to start that healing ... I ask all of us to be there for those in our family who need us on sad days like this one.”
ILLINI HILLEL
“Along with the rest of the University of Illinois community, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims. As always our deepest concern is for the safety of all students.”
ILLINOIS STUDENT SENATE
BY JOSEPH LONGO
“Like many of you, we were shocked, scared and devastated by the shootings that occurred last night. We would never expect such a thing to happen so close to our home at Illinois.”
UIPD CHIEF JEFF CHRISTENSEN
“Our campus community is a strong one, and our thoughts are with the victims, their families and anyone else affected by this violence.”
ADVOCATE CONDELL PRESIDENT DOMINICA TALLARICO Korchev had just passed his Nursing Board Exam and was supposed to begin a new job on Monday working as a registered nurse at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, according to a statement from the hospital.
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Police
“George was a valuable team member who was loved by his patients and known as a skilled, empathetic and selfless caregiver,” Advocate Condell President Dominica Tallarico said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
In high school, he was the class clown. Known for his signature high-pitched laugh, George Korchev always made his classmates laugh in homeroom. “Once he got someone to laugh, he would burst out laughing and get a bunch of other people to laugh,” Jorgen Juul, his former high school classmate said. “It was this chain reaction thing that pretty much happened every single day.” Juul, a 2016 University alumn, attended Mundelein High School with Korchev. They graduated in 2012. While they did not keep in close contact in recent years, Juul said they were school friends. “I saw him everyday for four years
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everyday in high school, so I’d say I knew him pretty well,” Juul said. He fi rst heard about the shooting through a group chat where another high school friend reported the shooting on Green Street. It was not until later that Juul learned he knew the victim, and he checked news outlets to confi rm. Like most University students, Juul never expected a high school classmate would be a shooting victim. Especially at the University, which Juul considers a safe campus. “It’s crazy to think that we went to school with this guy and now he’s dead; he got shot,” Juul said. “I don’t really know any other way to put it.”
jklongo2@dailyillini.com
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