DANVILLE — Quartez Jackson, 27, of Danville was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury from a Dec. 21, 2024 shooting of Joseph Jones.
According to a release from Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy, the trial against Jackson lasted four days.
“Today’s verdict delivers justice for the victim and sends a clear message that violence and intimidation will not obstruct the truth,” Lacy said. “The defendant not only carried out a murder by shooting this victim multiple times, but also attempted to manipulate the investigation by threatening and intimidating witnesses to control the narrative.”
In an initial report, Danville Police Department officers were called to the area of Collett and Williams Streets around 11 p.m. on Dec. 21, 2024, and found an unresponsive individual lying on the ground near the intersection. Officers immediately began administering first-aid until paramedics arrived. The individual identified as Jones, 35, of Champaign was pronounced dead at the scene.
DPD officials say when officers arrived they heard shots being fired in the same area.
According to a release from State’s Attorney, Jackson got out of a white sedan, and shot the victim multiple times, and then returned to the sedan’s backseat and the vehicle sped away from the scene.
Lacy says the victim was heard calling for help, and during that time, witnesses reported to Danville Police that the sedan returned to the scene and witnesses said the shooter was seen running away from the area on foot after more shots were fired.
The state says nearby surveillance cameras captured the sedan leaving and returning and leaving once again, matching the witnesses recall of the deadly event.
Those witness statements led to the arrest of an individual, but those charges were later dismissed.
Detective Zane Reining with the Danville Police Department was able to use DNA evidence and cell phone data extraction that led police to the arrest of the actual shooter, Jackson. Court records show Jackson was arrested for murder on Jan. 17, 2025.
Forensic Analyst John Fender, with DPD, collected the data used in this case from cell phones which gave them highly detailed reports to show where Jackson was at the time of the shooting. Further analysis by the Illinois State Police Crime Lab found Jackson’s DNA on the shell casings investigators found. Furthermore, the Firearms Identification Section of the ISP Crime Lab also was able to identify that the .40 caliber shell casings collected at the scene matched those at another crime scene Jackson was involved with where gunfire was reportedly exchanged.
Lacy thanked the jurors in the trial for their attention to detail, and thanked the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance as well.
“Thanks to the courage of witnesses who ultimately came forward with the truth, along with the tireless work of members of the Danville Police Department, the jurors were able to find the defendant guilty of First Degree Murder,” Lacy added. “My office remains committed to holding violent offenders fully accountable and to protecting all citizens of Vermilion County.”
The case was prosecuted by Lacy’s office as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Daniel Reynolds and Jake Klein, with Judge Mark S. Goodwin presiding over the trial.
Jackson’s next court date is on June 12 at the Vermilion County Court House.