PEORIA (25 News now) – A grand jury has indicted a Peoria man in a shooting at the Cityscape Apartments in September that killed a 10-year-old boy, who authorities said was an innocent bystander near where a business was taking place inappropriate drug.

The grand jury found there was enough evidence to charge Maurice Sargent, 33, with first-degree murder and being a habitual armed criminal.

On Sunday, Sept. 29, Torres L. Johnson II was found lying in the grass with a gunshot wound to the chest after police were called to investigate a two-round Shot Spotter alert in the 600 block of Romeo B. Garrett Avenue South. Peoria.

The Peoria County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that the shooting followed a botched sale of marijuana and an attempted robbery involving Sargent and two other juveniles.

Prosecutors said Johnson was not involved in the drug deal and was simply walking nearby when Sargent’s stray bullet struck him.

At a hearing on Thursday, October 3Peoria County Judge Katherine Gorman ordered Sargent to remain in jail pending trial.

The armed habitual criminal charge was filed because Sargent allegedly carried a weapon after being previously convicted of burglary and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.

Sargent’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, October 31.

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