On June 18, 2018, 22-year-old Corey D. Jackson, an African American male, was fatally shot in a Bloomington, Illinois apartment located at 311 Riley Drive. The tragic incident also claimed the lives of 22-year-old Nathaniel A. Pena and 33-year-old Juan Carlos Perez-Macedo. A 4-year-old boy, identified as Pena's son, was critically injured and subsequently paralyzed due to the shooting.
Investigations revealed that the perpetrator, 24-year-old Sydney Mays Jr., also an African American male, targeted Pena, a known drug dealer, with the intent to rob him of money and drugs. Mays was reportedly envious of Pena's financial success and his habit of flaunting wealth on social media. Cell phone records indicated that Mays coordinated with his cousin for a getaway ride to Peoria, offering $200, suggesting premeditation and an attempt to flee post-crime.
Forensic evidence established that both Jackson and Pena were shot with a .40 caliber handgun, while Perez-Macedo was killed with a .380 caliber firearm. The absence of forced entry implied that the assailant was likely known to the victims or already inside the apartment. A .40 caliber magazine and earbuds, similar to those Mays was seen wearing in a Snapchat video a day prior, were discovered at the crime scene, further linking him to the murders.
In February 2021, after a bench trial, Judge Casey Costigan found Mays guilty on nine counts of first-degree murder, among other charges. The court concluded that Mays was the sole individual responsible for the shootings, dismissing defense arguments suggesting alternative scenarios.
Subsequently, in October 2021, Mays was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for the murders of Jackson, Pena, and Perez-Macedo. Additionally, he received a 50-year sentence for the attempted murder of Pena's young son. Mays waived his right to appear at the sentencing, a decision that was met with disapproval from the victims' families, who expressed a desire to confront him directly.
The tragic loss of Corey D. Jackson, a 22-year-old African American man, along with the other victims, deeply affected the Bloomington community. The severity of the crime and the subsequent legal proceedings underscored the profound impact of this senseless act of violence.
