THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE RELEASE
People v. Quartez Jackson 2025-CF-44
On today’s date, a Vermilion County jury found Quartez Jackson (DOB: 3/30/1999), of Danville, Illinois, guilty of First Degree Murder following a 4-day trial. The case was prosecuted by State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy and Assistant State’s Attorneys Daniel Reynolds and Jake Klein. The trial was presided over by Judge Mark S. Goodwin.
The People presented evidence that on December 21, 2024, at approximately 10:56 PM, Danville Police responded to a call for multiple shots fired and a gunshot victim in the area of Williams Street. Officers arrived and located the victim who suffered from multiple gunshot wounds.
Police received information that a white sedan was at the scene and a male suspect got out of the vehicle before shooting the victim multiple times. The suspect returned to the backseat of the vehicle and the vehicle sped from the scene. The victim was heard calling for help. It was reported to police that shortly after, the vehicle returned to the scene. The witness heard additional shots fired and the male shooter was seen running from the scene on foot. Nearby surveillance cameras captured the vehicle leaving the scene, returning, and leaving the scene again.
Witness statements led to an arrest, however, further investigation by Detective Zane Reining with the Danville Police Department that included DNA evidence and cell phone data extraction led police to the arrest of the true shooter, Quartez Jackson. The initial suspect was exonerated and charges against that individual were dismissed. Forensic Analyst John Fender of the Danville Police Department collected data from cell phones and generated highly detailed reports to provide the defendant’s cell phone location through cellular towers in the area of the shooting at the exact time the shots were reported. Analysis by the Illinois State Police Crime Lab recovered Jackson’s DNA on the shell casings located at the scene. The Firearms Identification Section of the Illinois State Police Crime Lab also identified the .40 caliber shell casings collected at this crime scene matched the shell casings at another crime scene where Jackson had reportedly exchanged gunfire.
State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy thanked the jurors for their strong attention to detail during this trial and thanked members of the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance. She added, “Today’s verdict delivers justice for the victim and sends a clear message that violence and intimidation will not obstruct the truth. The defendant not only carried out a murder by shooting this victim multiple times, but also attempted to manipulate the investigation by threatening and intimidating witnesses to control the narrative. Thanks to the courage of witnesses who ultimately came forward with the truth, along with the tireless work of members of the Danville Police Department, the jurors were able to find the defendant guilty of First Degree Murder. My office remains committed to holding violent offenders fully accountable and to protecting all citizens of Vermilion County.”
