Caleb Witty, 17, was walking home from a street festival with his younger sister
Caleb Alexander Witty/Facebook
Caleb Witty
More than a decade after an Illinois teenager was shot and killed during a robbery, police say they have finally apprehended the killers.
Caleb Witty, 17, was walking home from a street festival with his 14-year-old sister on Aug. 4, 2011, when two people attempted to rob the two teens, Decatur police said in a news release. While trying to protect his younger sister, police say, Caleb was shot in the arm and chest, killing him.
Police announced June 5 that two men, Michael I. Wallace, 34, and Bobby Gipson, 34, had been charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 2011 shooting.
“These arrests mark a crucial step toward justice for Caleb Witty and will hopefully bring some comfort to his family and friends who have endured years of uncertainty and grief,” the department said in the release. . “Caleb Witty was a young man who was simply trying to enjoy an evening at the Decatur Celebration with his sister. And he was murdered for nothing. Words cannot even describe the absurdity of this crime. His untimely death was a profound loss that left a great void in the hearts of those who knew him. »
The police department did not say what led to the arrests of Wallace and Gipson.
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“Progress in this case is the result of the tireless efforts of our dedicated law enforcement team, significant assistance from the State Attorney’s Office, collaboration with state and federal agencies and the invaluable assistance from the community,” the department said.
Jail records indicate Wallace is being held in Illinois, while Gipson is awaiting extradition from Tennessee.
It was not immediately clear whether either entered a plea.
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