By Julia Bertino
Jun 1, 2021
(Macomb, IL) A teen charged with shooting his roommate at Western Illinois University pleads guilty in McDonough County Circuit Court.
On Tuesday, 19 year old Kavion Poplous pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder for shooting Amarion Hargrove in a dorm room in September 2020. The charge carries a sentence of 6 to 30 years in prison. Poplous must serve 85% of whatever sentence is imposed before he is eligible for parole.
Prosecutors say Hargrove was shot four times in the abdomen and once in the leg during the altercation. The student who lived in the dorm room said Poplous pulled out a gun from a backpack and fired several times at Hargrove. Hargrove also identified Poplous as the shooter.
By Benjamin Cox on June 2, 2021 at 10:23am
Photo Courtesy of McDonough County Jail.
A Chicago man who shot his roommate at a Western Illinois University dormitory plead guilty to attempted murder yesterday.
18 year old Kavion Poplous allegedly shot his roommate, Amarian Hargrove, after an argument while the two were in their dorm room in Thompson Hall on the evening of September 15th. Hargrove was taken to McDonough District Hospital before being transferred to another hospital, where he went through surgery. WIU’s News3 reports that Hargrove suffered complications from the incident but is expected to make a full recovery.
Poplous spent two weeks on the run before turning himself in at a Chicago police precinct. He was initially charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Poplous originally plead not guilty to all the charges on October 6
A pre-sentencing investigation will be conducted between now and then.
“(The pre-sentencing investigation) is basically a complete snapshot of the defendant’s social history, family history, any substance abuse history, criminal history – a complete snapshot of the defendant’s life,” Kwacala said, calling it a tool to help the court know the defendant better. He said the information will not be made public.
Poplous faces a minimum of six years in prison and a maximum of 30 years. Kwacala said he will be pushing for a term closer to the latter than the former, though he will no longer ask for an extended sentence.
Burlington, Iowa resident leads police on vehicle, foot chase mcdonoughvoice.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mcdonoughvoice.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
April 8, 2021
Dispatchers in McDonough County on Monday, April 5th received a 911 call from a female passenger in a sedan leading McDonough County Sheriff Deputies on a chase northbound on US Highway 67. Just after noon on Monday, after committing several traffic violations, the sedan driven by 36-year old Justin W. Patten of Burlington, Iowa sped away from Macomb Police onto US 67. Sheriff’s Deputies continued the pursuit while the female passenger maintained an open phone line with dispatchers. Authorities quickly discovered the same sedan led police on a chase in Knox County earlier that day. Patten, who was wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections for Escape, turned eastbound on Illinois Route 9 but eventually ran out of gas and took off on foot through a cornfield. He was quickly apprehended by Deputies and transported to the McDonough County Jail and is being held in lieu of bond. The female passenger was treated for her injuries by the Blandinsville Fire Rescue. Pat