Police in Urbana are investigating two weekend homicides. At this point, police say they do not believe the incidents are connected.
The first involved an 18-year-old victim who was shot and killed Friday evening. The second incident involved the shooting deaths of a 43-year-old and a 7-year-old on Saturday that police say appears to be the result of a domestic violence situation. The suspect involved in the second incident was known to the occupants of the residence, and therefore, police do not believe it was a random act.
Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer has identified the victim of the Friday evening shooting as 18-year-old Sherman D. McCraney, Jr., of Urbana. Names of the victims in Saturday’s shooting were not immediately released.
The shootings of the 43-year-old Urbana man and 7-year-old child occurred in the 900 block of Lanore Drive in Urbana. Police learned that the shootings of both derived from a home invasion.
The Criminal Investigation Division is handling the ongoing investigation. And Urbana Police were canvassing the surrounding area for witnesses and video footage that may assist with the investigation.
If you have information that might assist police please call 217-384-2320. Arrangements can be made for the information to be shared privately.
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at 217-373-TIPS (217-373-8477); online at 373tips.com; or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.
Community members are reminded that information submitted to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous. And Crime Stoppers will pay cash rewards of $5,000 for tips that lead to an arrest in any homicide case.
In a statement released Sunday, (February 9, 2025), the Urbana Police Department said: “We are grieving alongside those affected by these tragedies and extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones impacted. We urge anyone with information on either incident to come forward. Your cooperation is vital to our efforts to ensure justice and safety in our community.”
