(Peoria County, IL) -- On Sunday, August 22, 2021, at approximately 1:00 am, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of Route 150 and Philander Chase Rd and found a female down in the ditch line. The female had multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to OSF hospital. The female was later pronounced deceased. The investigation is still ongoing. The name of the victim will be released by the Peoria County Coroner after notification to family.
UPDATE [10:00 a.m. 8/22/21]: A person of interest has been identified. This individual has been located at a rest stop near Springfield, Illinois in Sangamon County. The Illinois State Police and Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office is currently managing that active scene. Additional details about this developing incident in Sangamon County will be provided by the ISP media coordinator.
Investigation is on-going.
UPDATE 2 [1:30 p.m. 8/22/21]: At approximately 1:00 p.m. Sunday, August 22, the individual identified as person of interest surrendered to authorities at the rest stop in Sangamon County. The individual is currently being detained.
UPDATE 3 [3:00 PM 8/23/21] - The person of interest in this incident was identified as Joshua A. McGee. McGee was detained at the Rail Splitter Rest Stop, located on I-55 Southbound in Sherman, IL, on August 23, 2021.
McGee was subsequently arrested on the charge of First Degree Murder by Peoria County Sheriff's Detectives on August 23. McGee has been returned to the Peoria County Jail and is scheduled for a first appearance court hearing on Tuesday, August 24 at 1:00 p.m. (or other time as determined by the Court), on the criminal charge.
Investigation continues to be ongoing. No additional details will be released at this time.