On August 3, 2017, at approximately 8:10 p.m., Champaign Police Officers responded to a report of a shooting near Elm Street and Beardsley Avenue in Champaign, Illinois. Upon arrival, they discovered 53-year-old Gus D. Edwards, a male resident of Champaign, suffering from a gunshot wound. Edwards was promptly transported to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, where he succumbed to his injuries at 9:51 p.m.
Following the incident, the Champaign Police Department initiated a comprehensive investigation to identify the individual responsible for the death of 53-year-old Gus Edwards. In June 2018, a News-Gazette article titled "2017 Cold Case: The murder of Gus Edwards" provided new information that corroborated existing evidence, leading investigators to identify 24-year-old Jamonte Hill of Champaign as a suspect.
On August 20, 2018, the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office filed four counts of First Degree Murder against Jamonte Hill in connection with the death of 53-year-old Gus Edwards. At the time, Hill was already in custody at the Champaign County Correctional Center on unrelated weapons and narcotics charges. Following the new charges, his bond was set at $5 million. The Champaign Police Department continues to encourage anyone with additional information regarding the shooting to contact their Investigations Division or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.
