PEORIA, Illinois — Peoria Police arrested 24-year-old Shaquille P. Brown on April 1, 2025, after responding to a report of a possibly armed male at 11:16 a.m. in the 3400 block of W. Lucerne Court. Officers didn’t find Brown at the initial location but later apprehended him in the 2900 block of N. Molleck, where a search revealed a stolen handgun in his possession.
Brown faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, armed violence, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance, and lacking a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card. He was booked into the Peoria County Jail, with the incident logged as PPD Incident #25-5791. The discovery of a stolen firearm and controlled substance adds layers to the case, suggesting potential ties to broader criminal activity in the area.
Peoria, a city of about 110,000, has seen a rise in gun-related incidents—city data shows a 7% increase in firearm arrests from 2023 to 2024, often in neighborhoods like those near Lucerne Court and Molleck. Brown’s status as a felon in possession of a firearm highlights a recurring issue in Illinois, where strict gun laws aim to prevent such scenarios but face enforcement challenges. The Peoria Police urge anyone with information on violent crimes to contact them at 309-673-4521, or submit anonymous tips via tip411 or Crime Stoppers at 309-673-9000.
