THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE RELEASE
People v. Bradlee Williams 2023-CF-300
On January 31, 2025, Bradlee Williams (DOB: 8/8/1996), formerly of Tilton, Illinois, pleaded guilty to charges of Armed Robbery, a class X felony, for which he was sentenced to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and to Aggravated Battery, a class 3 felony for which he will serve a consecutive sentence of 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Judge Mark S. Goodwin presided over the Plea hearing. Following his term of imprisonment, Williams will serve 18 months of mandatory supervised release.
The People presented evidence that after 11:00 PM, on the night of May 17, 2023, Danville Police responded to the parking lot of a business on Gilbert Street. Officers arrived on scene and quickly began providing life-saving first aid to the victim until paramedics arrived. The victim stated to police that he was there to meet Kaleb Cotton. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. Witnesses reported to police, and security footage from the area confirmed that the co-defendants left the parking lot in a white Cadillac after the shooting occurred. A short time later, the Cadillac was located at the residence of Kaleb Cotton.
Through further investigation, police determined that the co-defendants had switched vehicles before fleeing to a hotel on Lynch Road in Danville. Both Williams and Cotton were located at the hotel. While speaking with police, Cotton admitted to being present during the shooting and through further investigation, it was determined that Bradlee Williams was the shooter. Kaleb Cotton was previously sentenced at a hearing in October 2024.
State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy thanked the Danville Police Department for their quick response in providing aid to the shooting victim, as well as in their work to locate both defendants following this senseless crime. She added, “It is my hope that this case will serve as a reminder of the consequences that can result from acts of violent crime.”
