A 38-year-old woman's life ended tragically over the weekend in what the Peoria Police Department is treating as the first homicide in the city of 2025. Found with an apparent gunshot wound in the hallway of the Grove Apartments on Candlelight Court, she was pronounced dead at the scene by authorities.
Following the discovery, 45-year-old Derrick S. Hall was apprehended, a few hours later by Peoria police. According to Central Illinois Proud, Hall now faces a charge of first-degree murder. As of Monday morning, he remains in custody at the Peoria County Jail. It is not yet clear if he has been formally charged due to the holiday.
Police responded to the 600 block of East Ravine Avenue just after 5:00 p.m., where they located Hall. The Peoria Police Chief, Eric Echevarria, detailed to a Central Illinois Proud reporter the report police had received earlier that morning regarding a dead body found at the apartment complex. The identity of the deceased woman and the official cause of death will be released by the Peoria County Coroner's Office in due course.
Anyone, with information related to this case is urged to contact the Peoria Police Department, avail themselves of tip411 for anonymous tips, or reach out to Crime Stoppers, where information can be provided anonymously as well.
