PEORIA (25News Now) – Prosecutors say their case against Downtown Peoria shooting suspect Adrian Morris includes surveillance video showing him firing shots that wounded two people and led to chaos involving a hostile crowd and police.
The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office provided details of its case to convince the judge to keep Morris behind bars before his trial.
Morris, 29, is charged with two counts of aggravated battery and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. He’s accused of firing shots that wounded two men during the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 28. One of the victims remains in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the chest.
The other man who was shot arrived at the hospital in a private car. He suffered a non-life-threatening wound, according to authorities.
In court, Morris claimed self-defense, but the video does not show the victims holding or firing guns.
The attorney for Morris listed several positives in his client’s life; he is employed, has housing, takes care of his children, and is working to get his GED.
Still, Morris is a threat to the community,” said Associate Judge Nathan Bach.
“We’re talking about a pretty brazen act,” the judge said.
The video reportedly shows Morris leaning against his car with both victims nearby. Morris can be seen firing a gun twice, hitting both men, said prosecutors.
While police provided aid for the critically wounded shooting victim, they were confronted by a hostile crowd of about 50 people. Five people in the crowd are jailed on aggravated battery charges, with one of the suspects accused of trying to disarm an officer, and another for breaking the door handle of a police car.