On November 19, 2018, 36-year-old Daryl D. Keller was fatally shot in the 200 block of Sand Street in South Peoria, Illinois. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an extensive investigation, Peoria police identified 28-year-old Lionell L. Harris as a suspect. At the time, Harris was already incarcerated within the Illinois Department of Corrections on unrelated charges. In 2020, he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Keller's death.
During the trial, it was revealed that investigators utilized advanced techniques, including "geofencing," to gather evidence. This method allowed them to analyze data from mobile devices in the vicinity of the crime scene, ultimately leading to Harris's identification as the perpetrator.
In October 2023, a jury found Harris guilty of first-degree murder. Subsequently, in December 2023, he was sentenced to 80 years in prison, with the requirement to serve the full term without the possibility of parole.
The conviction and sentencing of Harris brought a measure of closure to the tragic loss of Daryl D. Keller, a 36-year-old resident of Peoria, Illinois.
