DANVILLE —
A man accused of shooting his uncle in a property dispute made his first appearance in court Friday.
Billy R. Richardson, 56, of the 600 block of East 13th Street, appeared for arraignment Friday afternoon in Vermilion County Circuit Court via a video feed from the Public Safety Building where he remains incarcerated.
Richardson was arrested Wednesday evening in connection with the shooting of his uncle, 68-year-old Donnie Davis, earlier that day.
In court Friday, Richardson was advised of the four counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm filed against him by the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office.
A preliminary hearing in which he will enter a formal plea of guilty or not guilty was set during Friday’s proceedings for Dec. 6.
Associate Judge Karen Wall did not immediately set bond for Richardson. Instead, a hearing to set the bond amount was scheduled for Monday afternoon. Until that time, Richardson will remain incarcerated in the Public Safety Building jail.
Vermilion County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of gunshots around 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 600 block of East 13th Street, just outside Tilton village limits. Outside 647 E. 13th St., responding law enforcement found Davis suffering from several gunshot wounds.
The shooting took place almost exactly at the time in which Richardson was expected, under court order, to vacate the home. The deadline was issued under court order in a lawsuit filed by Davis in 2011.
Witnesses said the men began arguing around 4 p.m. outside the home before Richardson fired a handgun at Davis, striking him several times. Richardson then fled into a wooded area near the Vermilion River. Police later arrested him shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday at a house in the 2000 block of Perrysville Road.
Davis was pronounced dead just after 4:30 p.m. at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center.
First-degree murder, under state statute, is punishable by up to 60 years or potentially a life sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Aggravated battery with a firearm is a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Local News
Local man faces murder charges
- Local News
-
-
Fire hits Hoopeston tire business
Firefighters from at least five departments battle a blaze today at a tire business on Hoopeston's south side. Areas around the scene were evacuated due to the dense smoke the fire created. No injuries had been reported as of 7:30 a.m.
- Youth art camps available
-
District 118, union reach tentative agreement
After nearly a year without a contract, Danville District 118’s teachers, secretaries and learning resource clerks might have a new contract soon.
- Autism group sets training
- UPDATE: Hoopeston tire fire battle continues
-
Fire consumes large tire business
Black smoke blotted out the morning sky for many Hoopeston residents as a large fire consumed a local tire business along Illinois Route 9.
-
Photo Options
The closing of the photo studio inside of Sears helped Martinsville photographer Charlie Reeves finalize his decision about opening a photography studio inside the Village Mall.
-
Panel OKs Manor buyer
Vermilion County Board Nursing Home Committee members made their choice Tuesday for the next owner of Vermilion Manor Nursing Home.
-
Youths, violence top talk at meeting
There’s been too many shootings lately and some local pastors and others want to know what can be done to rid the community of the problems.
-
Program proves successful
Adam McHone recently graduated from Attica High School, but his journey to this point has not been an easy one.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Men's Warehouse fires Zimmer, founder and face of company
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Exclusive: Locklear & Seymour Lock Lips
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash
Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
