A 44-year-old man is dead and a woman is recovering after a violent shooting early Wednesday morning in Peoria County.
The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3400 block of West Harmon Highway around 3:05 a.m.
Deputies arrived to find two victims at the scene.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood identified the deceased as Davelle M. Wilder.
Wilder was rushed to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.
He was unresponsive and had no heartbeat upon arrival.
Medical staff pronounced Wilder dead at 3:36 a.m.
An autopsy later confirmed that Wilder died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The second victim, an unidentified woman, was found with a gunshot wound to her leg.
Quick-thinking deputies applied a tourniquet to her injury before paramedics arrived.
She was transported to a local hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
Investigators believe the suspects fled the area before law enforcement arrived.
Currently, no suspects are in custody for the deadly attack.
Sheriff Chris Watkins stated that detectives believe this was an isolated incident.
The investigation into the motive and the identity of the shooters remains active.
Heartbroken Brother Issues Emotional Statement
The brother of Davelle Wilder shared a devastating message following the news of the identification.
“I cannot fully express the depth of my emotions at this moment,” he stated.
He described the moment he learned of the tragedy.
“The pain I felt when I received the call that you were gone is indescribable.”
The grieving brother expressed deep regret over the circumstances of the shooting.
“My blood brother, I am so deeply sorry this happened to you.”
“I regret more than words can say that I was not there with you.”
He concluded his tribute with a promise to keep his brother’s memory alive.
“May you rest in peace.”
“You will forever remain in my heart, and I will love you always.”
Tributes Pour In for “Vell” Wilder
Other friends and family members have also taken to social media to share their grief.
One person close to the victim expressed shock over the sudden loss of the man they knew as “Vell.”
“If you knew, you know,” the tribute shared.
“Omg Vell Davelle Wilder, you with your momma and uncle now.”
“I can’t believe this,” the post continued.
The individual also noted they were sending prayers to his family and Cory Wilder.
These personal tributes highlight the deep impact the violence has left on the Peoria County community.
Recent History
This shooting on West Harmon Highway follows a concerning trend of violence in the Greater Peoria area.
While Sheriff Watkins labeled this an isolated event, Peoria County has seen a rise in domestic and targeted shootings over the last year.
Nearby neighborhoods have recently voiced concerns over the speed of response times in unincorporated areas of the county.
This incident marks another life lost to gun violence in a region struggling to curb midnight-hour shootings.
Law enforcement continues to urge residents to utilize anonymous tip lines to help close these cases.
