Andre Leathers Sr., a 43-year-old African American man from Peoria, Illinois, tragically lost his life on June 29, 2020. Leathers was a well-known figure in his community, having worked as a chef at The Fish House and as an assistant to the acclaimed artist Preston Jackson. His death was the result of a close-range gunshot wound to the face, which he sustained in the backyard of a residence on North Saratoga Street. The Peoria County Coroner confirmed that Leathers died instantly from the gunshot wound.
The investigation into Leathers' death revealed that he was shot during a dispute at a barbecue. Dujuane Nelson, a 27-year-old man, was found guilty of Leathers' murder after a three-day trial. Nelson was sentenced to 75 years in prison, a term that was 30 years above the minimum sentence due to his prior criminal history and the senseless nature of the crime. During the trial, it was revealed that Nelson and Leathers had an argument at the barbecue, which escalated to the fatal shooting.
Leathers' death had a profound impact on his family and the Peoria community. His mother, Sandra Leathers, spoke in court about the emotional toll her son's death had on his six children and ten grandchildren. She also made a plea for an end to the gun violence that plagued their community, emphasizing the need for Black men to stop killing each other. The judge in the case, John Vespa, described Leathers as an outstanding member of society and expressed his sorrow over the loss of such a valuable community member.
The case against Nelson was built on testimony that placed him at the scene of the crime and indicated that the shooting was a spontaneous act rather than a premeditated murder. Despite Nelson's claims of innocence and his father's assertion that he was wrongfully convicted, the evidence presented at trial led to his conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
