UPDATED STORY:
Above: Springfield Police photo of 19-year-old Quartze “Quartez” Washington; arrested by Danville Police during Saturday night traffic stop, and wanted on warrant for a 2023 Springfield, MO murder.
The Saturday night arrest by Danville Police of Danville 20-year-olds Amiyah N Helton and Keshawn J Cotton of Danville on drug and weapon charges included the arrest of a third person in the car. That third person has turned out to be a 19-year-old male, Quartze “Quartez” Washington, wanted by Springfield, Missouri police for the November of 2023 murder of Chaviz Nguyen.
Danville Police Deputy Chief Terry McCord says officers were suspicious of the third person in the car from that start.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: It was a pretty deep investigation that was completed through patrol officers. They believed that the name the person was using wasn’t correct. They had reason to believe that he was lying about his name. They did a lot more investigation into that. And through that investigation they were able to determine it was actually the person that was wanted out of Missouri.
Springfield, MO Police have confirmed with CIMG that Washington remains in custody in Danville, and has not yet been extradited back to Missouri.
The Springfield release says another Springfield man, 21-year-old Arshaun Bradley, remains at large and is also wanted in connection with the November, 2023 murder. He is described as 5-7 and 120 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, multiple tattoos on his left arm; and with out-of-state connections.
Above: Springfield, MO Police photo of Arshawn Bradley, who is still at large and wanted in connection with Chaviz Nguyen’s November, 2023 murder.
THE FOLLOWING IS A SPRINGFIELD, MO POLICE RELEASE
On March 30, 2025, Quartze “Quartez” Washington, 19, from Springfield, was arrested in Danville, Illinois. Washington was wanted for the Nov. 14, 2023, murder of Chaviz Nguyen.
The case was presented to the Greene County Prosecutor’s office on April 11, 2024. Washington is charged with 1st degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, 1st degree assault, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, and will be held with no bond.
Arshaun Bradley, 21, from Springfield, is still at large and wanted in connection with this case. Bradley is 5-foot-7 and 120 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Bradley has multiple tattoos on his left arm. He has out-of-state ties and is considered armed and dangerous.
Bradley is charged with 1st degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, 1st degree assault, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.
If you have any information on Bradley’s whereabouts, please call the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1755 or make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477) or online at p3tips.com. If located, do not attempt to apprehend Bradley, and call 911.
The Greene County Prosecutor’s Office cautions that the charges contained in the felony complaint are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Previous release >> facebook.com/photo/?fbid=753101353512913&set=a.235751671914553
FOLLOW-UP DANVILLE POLICE RELEASE
The following is an update to the original media release involving two arrests made from a vehicle stop on Saturday, 3/29/25, just before midnight.
During the traffic stop conducted by officers on Saturday, 3/29/25, just before midnight, there was a 3rd subject in the car. The subject initially provided false information to officers and was not cooperative. Further investigation into that person led officers to eventually identify him as 19-year-old Quartez C Washington.
Danville Police photo of Quartez Washington
Washington was found to be wanted on a warrant out of Springfield, MO, for murder charges. Washington was arrested and booked for Obstructing Justice and for being wanted on an out-of-state warrant. Washington is currently in custody at the Vermilion County Public Safety Building.
Due to cooperation with other departments, that information was not originally released due to ongoing communication with the County and State issuing the warrant
ORIGINAL DANVILLE POLICE RELEASE/STORY:
CHARGES: Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon Armed Violence, and Possession of over 100 but less than 500 Grams of cannabis
On Saturday evening, 3/29/25, just before midnight, a Danville Police Officer stopped a vehicle in the 500 block of Clarence St. after witnessing an equipment and seatbelt violation.
A DPD K9 unit arrived on the scene and indicated on the vehicle. Officers investigated further and identified the driver as 20-year-old Amiyah N Helton of Danville and a passenger as 20-year-old Keshawn J Cotton of Danville. Cotton was found to have an illegal firearm and over 100 grams of cannabis. Another illegal firearm was also located during the officer’s investigation.
Officers arrested and transported both subjects to the Vermilion County Public Safety Building. Helton was booked on charges of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, No Valid FOID, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Endangering the Life/Health of a Child. Cotton was booked on charges of Aggravated Use of a Weapon, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of over 100 Grams of Cannabis, and Armed Violence.
This incident remains under investigation. The Danville Police Department reminds the public that all subjects arrested are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Danville Police Department at 217-431-2250 or Vermilion County Crimestoppers at vccrimestoppers.org use the mobile app. P3TIPS, or call anonymously to 217-446-TIPS (8477).
