A Danville man convicted of killing two men in a local home was sentenced
A Danville man convicted of killing two men in a local home was sentenced to life in prison on Monday.
to life in prison on Monday.
Terrion Tinsley, 21, was found guilty by a jury in January of first degree murder in the deaths of Nathaniel Gentry and Cordell Reed in January of 2020. The killings occurred in Reed’s home.
Tinsley was one of three men who entered Reed’s home and killed Gentry, Reed and a third man, Anthony Jones. Tinsley and another of the attackers were juveniles at the time.
One of the attackers pleaded guilty to robbery in the case and agreed to testify against the other two. Tinsley was the first to go to trial for the killings. The final defendant goes to trial in May.
Evidence presented at trial showed that all three victims died as a result of multiple stab wounds and multiple injuries of blunt force trauma.
State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy prosecuted the case in Vermilion County along with two assistants.
Circuit Judge Derek Girton handed down the life sentence on Tinsley.
During the sentencing hearing, Lacy recalled evidence that was presented during the trial, reiterating that Tinsley stabbed Reed and brutally beat and bludgeoned the victims to death. “Terrion Tinsley had every opportunity to leave 440 Elm Street that night, but he stayed and made sure the job was done,” Lacy said.
Lacy thanked the Danville Police Department and the Illinois State Police agencies, as well as forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton, for their contributions to the investigation.
“These victims did nothing to deserve this. They were innocent, decent citizens of our community,” Lacy said. “The sentence from Judge Girton today sends a strong message to our community that we will not stand for senseless acts of violence. I hope this sentence provides some sense of closure for the victims’ families.”