In the early morning hours of Friday, January 16, 2026, a fatal shooting in Urbana, Illinois, claimed the life of 52-year-old Benancio Crowley of Champaign. The incident unfolded at approximately 1:48 a.m. in the 1200 block of Ellis Drive, where Urbana police officers responded to reports of a shooting with injuries. Upon their arrival, they discovered Crowley suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical aid was administered at the scene before Crowley was transported to Carle Foundation Hospital. Despite the life-saving efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 2:56 a.m. by the Champaign County Coroner's Office. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed.
The initial investigation by Urbana Police detectives and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigators indicated that the alleged shooter had fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. However, the investigation quickly led to a suspect. Later that same day, just before 2:15 p.m., 19-year-old Charles Lake was arrested in connection with the shooting. The arrest was made in the 1900 block of Blackthorn Drive in the neighboring city of Champaign, with the assistance of the Champaign Police Department SWAT Team.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Benancio Crowley's death remains active and ongoing. Authorities have encouraged anyone with additional information, including surveillance or video footage from the area at the time of the incident, to contact the Urbana Police Department or to submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.
