The murder trial of a young Danville man got underway in Vermilion County Circuit Court Monday. Dustin Cooper is being tried as an adult even though he was a juvenile when he was arrested.
Cooper is one of four people who were charged in the shooting death of an Oakwood man from whom they allegedly intended to purchase cannabis products, as well as the death of a teenager who authorities say participated in the crime.
Cooper is the first defendant to stand trial in the January – 2021 – shootings. The charges stem from the deaths of 19-year-old Wyatt Bailey of Oakwood and 15-year-old Clayvonte Sloan of Rantoul.
In court Monday, Judge Derek Girton read more than 35 names as he told potential jurors those are people who might be called to testify during the trial. The Judge also told jurors they must resist jumping to conclusions based on their likes or dislikes. And he added jurors should not try to do any research about the case, or post anything online about them serving on a jury.
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution.
