http://www.pantagraph.com/news/news0804-01.html
Friday, August 4, 2000
Cop charged with murder
By STEVE SILVERMAN
A part-time Hudson police officer
was charged with first- and
second-degree murder Thursday in
the shooting death of a mentally
disabled man who drove away from
a Chenoa convenience store 11 days ago without paying for about $15
worth of gasoline.
Jeffrey A. Gabor, 23, who voluntarily surrendered about 2 p.m. Thursday at the McLean County Sheriff's Department, is charged in the July 24 death of 27-year-old Shannon Smith of Weston. Gabor
remained jailed Thursday night in lieu of $50,000.
Murder charges, which are
rare in cases involving
shootings by on-duty
police officers, were filed
after McLean County
State's Attorney Charles
Reynard's office reviewed
a preliminary investigative
report by Illinois State
Police.
Reynard declined to discuss details of the case,
citing recently established Illinois Supreme Court
rules that limit the amount of information authorities
can release about pending cases.
However, sources close to the investigation told The
Pantagraph that evidence suggests Gabor fired
several shots into the passenger compartment after
police boxed in Smith's car following a chase
involving officers from three departments.
Then, after another officer had time to walk halfway
around the vehicle, Gabor fired again, sources said.
No one would comment on the length of time
between the first shots and the last shot.
The first-degree murder charge alleges Gabor shot
Smith knowing that it created a strong probability of
death or great bodily injury. The second-degree
murder charge alleges Gabor believed his actions
were reasonable but that they were not.
Gabor, a 1995 Normal Community High School
graduate, faces 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted
of first-degree murder. Second-degree murder
carries a penalty ranging from four years on
probation to 20 years in prison.
While Reynard stressed Gabor is entitled to a
presumption of innocence, he said he hopes the
outcome of the case will restore public confidence in
police, which may have been shaken by the
shooting.
"I can confirm that I share the concern that citizens
have, the shock and the emotional distress that goes
out not only to the family members who are most
desperately injured by this type of event, but also to
the entire community," he said.
Gabor's prosecution "is a process that will restore,
hopefully, the faith of the community," said Reynard,
adding that he's not aware of any other police
officers in Illinois being charged with murder for an
on-the-job incident.
Reynard declined to say whether anyone else might
be charged. He said the investigation continues.
Two other officers -- from the Lexington and
Chenoa police departments -- also shot at Smith's
car, apparently in an attempt to shoot out the tires,
witnesses said.
The Pantagraph has identified the other two officers
as Dennis Carter of Chenoa and Jason Edmunds of
Lexington.
An autopsy showed Smith was shot five times in the
back and shoulder areas after being chased by
officers. Smith had reportedly failed to pay for
$15.05 worth of gasoline at a Chenoa convenience
store.
Police boxed in Smith's brown Cadillac about 6:30
p.m. on the Money Creek Bridge on Interstate 55
about two miles north of Towanda. Witnesses said
Smith rammed two police vehicles in an attempt to
flee after one of the officers smashed out a car
window.
Reynard said Assistant State's Attorney Robert
Freitag received the state police's preliminary report
Wednesday and reviewed it extensively before
briefing Reynard and First Assistant State's
Attorney Teena Griffin.
A group decision was made to charge Gabor with
both first-degree murder and second-degree
murder, which Reynard said was the "most inclusive
method" for prosecuting the case.
Gabor, who also was a police officer for the village
of Downs, made arrangements to turn himself in
through his attorney, Paul Welch of Bloomington.
"He has continued to cooperate with the authorities
as he has all along," said Welch, who wouldn't say
whether that cooperation included giving a statement
about the shooting to investigators. Welch declined
further comment.
Hudson Mayor Shaun Hermes released a statement
on behalf of herself and other village officials. In it,
she extended "our sympathy to both the Smith and
Gabor families. We are deeply saddened by the
situation."
Hudson Police Chief Roy Garrett, as well as mayors
and police chiefs from Lexington and Chenoa, either
could not be reached Thursday or refused
comment.
Kevin Hinshaw, who was Gabor's supervisor for
about eight months in 1998 and 1999 when the two
worked together as patrol officers at Comlara Park,
also expressed sympathy to both the Smith and
Gabor families.
"I feel sorry for everybody involved," said Hinshaw,
now a police dispatcher for McLean County.
------------------
LowClassCat
Always willing to calculate my chances
Friday, August 4, 2000
Cop charged with murder
By STEVE SILVERMAN
A part-time Hudson police officer
was charged with first- and
second-degree murder Thursday in
the shooting death of a mentally
disabled man who drove away from
a Chenoa convenience store 11 days ago without paying for about $15
worth of gasoline.
Jeffrey A. Gabor, 23, who voluntarily surrendered about 2 p.m. Thursday at the McLean County Sheriff's Department, is charged in the July 24 death of 27-year-old Shannon Smith of Weston. Gabor
remained jailed Thursday night in lieu of $50,000.
Murder charges, which are
rare in cases involving
shootings by on-duty
police officers, were filed
after McLean County
State's Attorney Charles
Reynard's office reviewed
a preliminary investigative
report by Illinois State
Police.
Reynard declined to discuss details of the case,
citing recently established Illinois Supreme Court
rules that limit the amount of information authorities
can release about pending cases.
However, sources close to the investigation told The
Pantagraph that evidence suggests Gabor fired
several shots into the passenger compartment after
police boxed in Smith's car following a chase
involving officers from three departments.
Then, after another officer had time to walk halfway
around the vehicle, Gabor fired again, sources said.
No one would comment on the length of time
between the first shots and the last shot.
The first-degree murder charge alleges Gabor shot
Smith knowing that it created a strong probability of
death or great bodily injury. The second-degree
murder charge alleges Gabor believed his actions
were reasonable but that they were not.
Gabor, a 1995 Normal Community High School
graduate, faces 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted
of first-degree murder. Second-degree murder
carries a penalty ranging from four years on
probation to 20 years in prison.
While Reynard stressed Gabor is entitled to a
presumption of innocence, he said he hopes the
outcome of the case will restore public confidence in
police, which may have been shaken by the
shooting.
"I can confirm that I share the concern that citizens
have, the shock and the emotional distress that goes
out not only to the family members who are most
desperately injured by this type of event, but also to
the entire community," he said.
Gabor's prosecution "is a process that will restore,
hopefully, the faith of the community," said Reynard,
adding that he's not aware of any other police
officers in Illinois being charged with murder for an
on-the-job incident.
Reynard declined to say whether anyone else might
be charged. He said the investigation continues.
Two other officers -- from the Lexington and
Chenoa police departments -- also shot at Smith's
car, apparently in an attempt to shoot out the tires,
witnesses said.
The Pantagraph has identified the other two officers
as Dennis Carter of Chenoa and Jason Edmunds of
Lexington.
An autopsy showed Smith was shot five times in the
back and shoulder areas after being chased by
officers. Smith had reportedly failed to pay for
$15.05 worth of gasoline at a Chenoa convenience
store.
Police boxed in Smith's brown Cadillac about 6:30
p.m. on the Money Creek Bridge on Interstate 55
about two miles north of Towanda. Witnesses said
Smith rammed two police vehicles in an attempt to
flee after one of the officers smashed out a car
window.
Reynard said Assistant State's Attorney Robert
Freitag received the state police's preliminary report
Wednesday and reviewed it extensively before
briefing Reynard and First Assistant State's
Attorney Teena Griffin.
A group decision was made to charge Gabor with
both first-degree murder and second-degree
murder, which Reynard said was the "most inclusive
method" for prosecuting the case.
Gabor, who also was a police officer for the village
of Downs, made arrangements to turn himself in
through his attorney, Paul Welch of Bloomington.
"He has continued to cooperate with the authorities
as he has all along," said Welch, who wouldn't say
whether that cooperation included giving a statement
about the shooting to investigators. Welch declined
further comment.
Hudson Mayor Shaun Hermes released a statement
on behalf of herself and other village officials. In it,
she extended "our sympathy to both the Smith and
Gabor families. We are deeply saddened by the
situation."
Hudson Police Chief Roy Garrett, as well as mayors
and police chiefs from Lexington and Chenoa, either
could not be reached Thursday or refused
comment.
Kevin Hinshaw, who was Gabor's supervisor for
about eight months in 1998 and 1999 when the two
worked together as patrol officers at Comlara Park,
also expressed sympathy to both the Smith and
Gabor families.
"I feel sorry for everybody involved," said Hinshaw,
now a police dispatcher for McLean County.
------------------
LowClassCat
Always willing to calculate my chances
