Man charged with murder in fatal shooting in downtown Peoria

PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria County grand jury has indicted a man charged in a shooting in downtown Peoria this summer.

Lacorles Edwards, 40, was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

The shooting occurred in the early morning hours of August 30 in the area of ​​Main and Monroe.

According to prosecutors, Edwards shot 45-year-old Sylvester Erving in the head after a fight. Erving later died at a hospital.

Edwards then reportedly fled the scene and dropped the gun, which was later found in a bucket of water in an alley behind a store on Main Street.

Walter Dearmond, 44, was also arrested in connection with the shooting. Prosecutors allege he was later allegedly found with a gun that he picked up near Erving. He is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.

Edwards is due back in court on Thursday for an arraignment hearing.