Police are investigating two fatal shootings that took place over the past week in Carbondale.
The first claimed a 16-year-old victim, Xe'Quan Campbell of Zeigler. The second incident claimed the life of Keon Cooper, 27, of Carbondale.
In the Campbell case, Carbondale Police first responded around 2:44 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1 to a report of a gunshot victim at 1225 W. Freeman St. The Jackson County Ambulance Service immediately transported the victim, Campbell, to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he was pronounced dead.
Prior to the shooting, witnesses in a nearby apartment observed several people walking in the direction of the same apartment building. One of the individuals approaching the apartment was the victim. One of the individuals was also carrying a gun. An occupant of the apartment fired shots at the apartment door from the inside after the victim banged on the door and may have tried to open the door without identifying himself.
Detectives determined Campbell was related to one of the occupants in the apartment, and Campbell may have been responding to a call from his relative about an incident involving a gun that had occurred at the apartment several hours earlier.
Officers arrested those responsible for the shooting and took them into custody. Those same individuals were released from custody at the direction of the state's attorney pending a review by his office.
In the second incident, police responded around 1:22 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 to numerous reports of shots fired in the 500 block of South Illinois Avenue. Officers already in the area located a gunshot victim with life-threatening injuries.
The investigation revealed the victim, Cooper, was talking to three black male suspects outside of his vehicle in the parking lot when he was shot by two of the suspects armed with handguns. All three suspects fled in a black Kia Optima or similar style vehicle.
The Jackson County Ambulance Service drove Cooper to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he was pronounced dead. Police are seeking three suspects, all black males.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Carbondale Police at 618-457-3200.
