PEORIA, Ill. – A 16-year-old boy charged in connection with an April 23 post-prom party shooting that left the victim paralyzed will face trial in adult court.
Amari Smith-Holley is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm. The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office said Smith-Holley’s case was automatically transferred to adult court due to his age and the charge against him.
During a detention hearing Wednesday, Smith-Holley was ordered to remain in custody in the Juvenile Detention Center until trial.
Peoria County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Valley Lake Center around 1 a.m. April 23 on a report of shots fired.
They arrived to find an 18-year old male victim lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head. The victim survived, but is paralyzed over half of his body as a result of the incident.
Deputies identified the victim as a member of the group “Jump Out Boys” and that they were feuding with another group known as the “Snakes.”
The State’s Attorney’s Office says in a combined effort with the Peoria Police Department, detectives used witness information and data from Smith-Holley’s cell phone and iCloud account to connect him to the shooting.
The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information should contact Detective Demery from the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office at 309-216-4775.
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