Gun violence victim advocates, neighbors, police reflect on Urbana shooting
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In Urbana, Illinois, a shooting incident early Wednesday morning resulted in one person being injured and another taken into custody. The event unfolded at the Pinewood Place Apartments, stirring the usually quiet community.

The victim, a 54-year-old man, was identified by police who swiftly responded to reports of gunfire just before 9 a.m. Their investigation led them to arrest 48-year-old John Webb, who, like the victim, resides at the apartment complex.

According to Lieutenant Dave Roesch of the Urbana Police, the department was alerted by several concerned neighbors who called in to report the incident. Roesch emphasized the crucial role of these immediate calls, alongside the fast response of law enforcement and emergency medical technicians, in saving the victim’s life. The man had sustained a gunshot wound to the neck, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.

“We had several people out here that made phone calls to us,” Urbana Police Lieutenant, Dave Roesch, said.

He added that immediate action by neighbors and a quick response from police and EMT’s likely saved one man’s life. The victim was shot in the neck.

“We know that there was a dispute,” Roesch said. “Neighbors told us that they heard yelling, and then, heard one gunshot.”

He also shared that Webb initially tried to get away, but police quickly found and arrested him. He is being held on a preliminary charge of attempted murder.

Representatives from HOPE, a healing, outreach, education, and gun violence prevention group, also responded. They said that when Urbana police get called to a shooting, they also get a call to respond.

“We try to prevent things like this from happening,” Travon Pickens, HOPE’s Street Outreach leader, said.

Pickens said that events like this have a chain reaction.

“It impacts everyone. It impacts the community, the families, the victim, obviously, and just the neighborhood,” Pickens shared.

Neighbors agreed.

“It’s not good, it’s really not, a bullet can go through siding. It’s scary. People just don’t stop and think how 20 seconds can change their whole life, over what?” Denise Huff said.

Huff lives in this apartment complex and knows the victim.

“He’s very nice,” Huff said. “And he had health issues, and he’s always been nice to me.”

She also knows the suspect, and said Webb had recently been acting off.

“He came to my door the other day, and he thought his girlfriend was in my house, and I’m like, ‘She’s not in here.’ I let him come in and look all around,” Huff recalled.

For now, she’s just grateful her friend is okay.

“That is a miracle, it really is,” Huff said.

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