PEORIA, Ill. – A 53-year-old Peoria man will remain behind bars until trial after allegedly shooting two people at a birthday party Friday night.
Lonnie Payno was charged with two counts of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon following a shooting incident in South Peoria. During a detention hearing Monday, a judge granted the State’s request to keep Payno in custody.
According to the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office, officers responded to a shooting in the 1700 block of West Lincoln around 11:30 p.m. on December 5, 2025. Upon arrival, they found two adult males suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Witnesses told police that a birthday party was underway at a residence when Payno, who was acting as bartender for the event, got into an argument with a woman and pushed her to the ground.
When multiple people stepped in to intervene, prosecutors say Payno began firing a gun several times, striking both victims. One in the leg and another in the stomach. He then fled in a Jeep.
Officers quickly located the Jeep with Payno in the passenger seat. A gun was found on the ground outside the passenger side of the vehicle, along with spent shell casings.
Payno himself had suffered a gunshot wound to his foot.
Payno will remain in custody at the Peoria County Jail pending trial.
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