Brein Metts, a 22-year-old male from Peoria, Illinois, tragically lost his life on May 13, 2020. On that evening, Peoria police responded to a call at the 1700 block of North Great Oak Road regarding reported shots fired. Upon arrival, officers found no victims at the scene. Shortly after, Brein Metts arrived at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center with a gunshot wound. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. An autopsy revealed that Metts had sustained a single gunshot wound to the back, which caused significant internal bleeding, leading to his death. The Peoria Police Department and the Peoria County Coroner’s Office launched an investigation, treating the case as a homicide.
The investigation into the death of Brein Metts, a 22-year-old African American male, led to the identification and arrest of a suspect. On August 6, 2020, detectives from the Peoria Police Department Criminal Investigations Division arrested 23-year-old Devonte P. Thompson. Thompson was taken into custody without incident by the Peoria Police Target Offender Unit for an Illinois Department of Corrections Parole Warrant. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a felon. Thompson was transported to the Peoria County Jail, where he awaited trial.
The arrest of Devonte P. Thompson marked a significant development in the case. The Peoria Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division had worked diligently to gather evidence and identify the perpetrator responsible for the death of Brein Metts. The charges against Thompson included first-degree murder, indicating that the authorities believed the shooting was intentional and premeditated. The possession of a weapon by a felon charge further complicated Thompson's legal situation, as it highlighted his prior criminal record and the illegal nature of his firearm possession.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, the community of Peoria closely followed the case, seeking justice for the untimely death of Brein Metts. The case underscored the ongoing issues of gun violence and the impact it has on families and communities. The Peoria Police Department continued to work with the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office to ensure a thorough prosecution of the case, aiming to hold Devonte P. Thompson accountable for his actions and provide some measure of closure to the family and friends of Brein Metts.
