Murder victim’s family still grieves

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September 18, 2008

Few details of shooting death revealed at inquest

BY BRIAN L. HUCHEL The Commercial-News Thu Sep 18, 2008, 09:39 AM CDT

DANVILLE — Almost two months have passed since the shooting death of Zellner Brown IV and his family continues to deal with the pain.

Brown’s mother, Donnetta Tetter, was among three family members who attended Wednesday’s coroner’s inquest hearing regarding Brown’s death.

“When you lose your child, you try to go on, but it’s been devastating,” Tetter said after the hearing.

A six-man, six-woman jury heard basic details regarding the shooting death of Brown in the early morning hours of July 20 in the 500 block of East Main Street. The jury ruled the death a homicide.

Police responded to the report of a shooting at about 1:30 a.m. at the Elks, 505 E. Main St. Brown was taken to Provena United Samaritans Medical Center where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room at about 2 a.m.

Tetter said her son left to go to the Elks 40 minutes before the shooting was reported.

Brown and the man now charged in the shooting, Alexis J. Brigham of Danville, ironically were friends at one point.

“I was shocked,” she said. “I really didn’t believe that (Brigham) did that. I really felt like it was a mistake, that he really didn’t mean to do that.”

Brigham, who was arrested in mid-August, faces four counts of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. He is being held in the Public Safety Building jail without bond.

Tetter’s father, Donald Tetter, also attended Wednesday morning’s inquest. He remembered Brigham as a small boy, “running around and playing ball.” He remains friends with Brigham’s father.

Despite the connections, the family insists they want justice.

“My heart does go out for him and his family as well,” she said. “I lost my child, but his family still gets to see him and talk to him.”

Brigham, 26, is slated for a jury trial Nov. 17.

Few details were released during the inquest hearing. Coroner Peggy Johnson indicated a 0.20 percent blood-alcohol level was found in Brown.

Johnson declined to release the number of times Brown was shot when questioned by Donetta Tettner, instead speaking to Tettner following the proceedings.

Danville police testified last week during Brigham’s preliminary hearing that Brown was shot three times — once in the back, once in the neck and a third shot that grazed him.

Also at Wednesday’s inquests:

-- The jury determined the death of Raymond Ingram, who died in a motorcycle-tractor crash Aug. 8, was accidental.

Ingram, 52, of Indianola was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which took place at 4:11 p.m. less than a quarter of a mile west of 9301E 370N on Sidell-Indianola Road.

John Corbin, 52, of Danville was driving a John Deere tractor west and preparing to turn south into a field when Ingram’s 2003 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which was headed east, collided with the tractor.

Sgt. Bill Hurt of the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department testified Corbin told officers he did not see the motorcycle as he prepared to turn. Johnson said Ingram died of severe head injuries as a result of the crash.

No traffic citations have been issued in the case.

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