Terrence Jerome DeCarlos Dunigan Jr., a 21-year-old African American male from Peoria, Illinois, tragically lost his life on September 5, 2020. Terrence was found with a gunshot wound in the 3300 block of West Woodhill Lane. Despite the efforts of Peoria Firefighters, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death left his family devastated, with his father and stepmother pleading for the community's help in finding those responsible.
The investigation revealed that Terrence was shot during a botched robbery at a dice game. Several individuals had gathered at a Peoria apartment for the game, and Terrence, who had been doing well, became a target for robbery. The incident led to the arrest and subsequent conviction of Mikeal Reed, a 19-year-old African American male, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for first-degree murder. Reed's conviction was later overturned by the Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court, which found that the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office had failed to provide the proper definition of robbery during the trial.
Two other individuals, Tayla T. Zolicoffer Jr., 21, and Keon M. Patterson, 18, were also implicated in the case. Zolicoffer reached a plea deal in January 2024, dropping the murder charge in exchange for pleading guilty to armed robbery. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Patterson, on the other hand, was found not guilty after a bench trial in November 2023.
The case of Terrence Dunigan's death highlights the tragic consequences of violence and the complexities of the legal system. His family continues to seek justice and closure, hoping that the community will come forward with any information that could help solve the case.
