Eddie J. Wren, a 42-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on September 12, 2019, in Peoria, Illinois. Eddie was discovered with a life-threatening gunshot wound to the neck around 6:45 p.m. near the intersection of Wisconsin and Nebraska avenues. Despite being rushed to an area hospital, he was pronounced dead at 7:15 p.m. The incident marked the 19th homicide in Peoria for that year.
The investigation into Eddie Wren's death quickly led to the arrest of 34-year-old Xavier Blake. On September 14, 2019, Blake turned himself in to the Peoria Police Department, confessing to the shooting. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and booked into the Peoria County Jail. According to court records, Blake claimed that he acted in self-defense, a common argument in such cases. The charge was later reduced to second-degree murder, indicating that while Blake believed he needed to use deadly force, this belief was deemed unreasonable.
In January 2021, Xavier Blake was sentenced to three years of probation for the fatal shooting of Eddie Wren. The court acknowledged Blake's claim of self-defense, which played a significant role in the reduction of his charges. Blake expressed remorse and apologized to Eddie Wren's family during the sentencing. The court also credited Blake for the 180 days he had already spent in jail. This case highlights the complexities and nuances often involved in legal proceedings related to violent crimes.
