Homeowner Nabbed After Shooting Alleged Invader, Burglar Dead With Shotgun

An Illinois man has been accused of killing a suspected home invader in what is being investigated as a botched break-in to the Illinois man’s property.

Blake L. Williams, a 32-year-old man from Buckley, was found shot in the chest inside a home in Rantoul, Illinois on Monday night, Aug. 9, according to WCIA.

The incident happened at around 8:23 p.m., when Williams reportedly attempted to enter 51-year-old Antonio Davis’ home without his consent. The residence, located on Abrams Drive, also housed Davis’ children, whom he might have been trying to protect in the attempted break-in.

Rantoul Deputy Police Chief Justin Bouse stated that a struggle ensued between Williams and Davis after the suspected burglar was spotted by the homeowner, the News-Gazette reported.

“At some point, a shotgun is introduced into the fight and it goes off and strikes Blake in the upper left chest. We are still trying to determine where the gun came from,” Bouse continued.

Davis described Williams as an acquaintance, and it is not known as of press time why the latter would attempt to break into the house, nor why it escalated to such extremes that the former would shoot Williams in the chest.

“After a struggle, a shotgun went off and struck the person who forced their way into the residence,” officers who responded to the scene said.

No one else in the home was hurt from the encounter. Williams was found with a gunshot wound in his chest by EMTs that responded to the scene. First responders attempted life-saving measures on Williams to no avail. He was pronounced dead on the scene of the crime.

Davis has been arrested on charges of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. He is currently staying in Champaign County Correctional Center while his children have been transported to a relative’s home, according to NBC affiliate WAND.

The incident is still under investigation by the local Rantoul police authorities.