A Galesburg man took a plea deal Monday morning in Knox County court for a shooting that took place in April 2020 on North Pearl Street.22-year-old Christopher Babers pleaded guilty to Aggravated Discharge of a Weapon and faces a sentence of between 4 and 15 years.
Online court records show that on Friday Babers had rejected an offer from the prosecution and his jury trial was to begin Monday.
Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin says the delay in this case was a result of Babers’ failure to appear at previous court dates.
In Galesburg Police’s investigation of the shooting that took place in 2020, they interviewed witnesses and collected spent cartridges from the scene.
Around 30 minutes after the shooting, Knox County deputies apprehended Babers in Abingdon while he was driving a vehicle that matched the description provided by the witnesses.
A search of the car led to the discovery of a 9mm handgun under the driver’s seat, which was still warm to the touch.
Additionally, deputies found a 9mm bullet in Babers’ pocket.
Babers was represented in this case by Monmouth-based Attorney Scott McClintock and State’s Attorney Karlin handled the prosecution.
9th Judge Andrew Doyle will hand down Babers sentence this October.
