Monmouth man, 18, turns self in for fatal shooting said to be a drug deal gone wrong

MONMOUTH — An 18-year-old Monmouth man has turned himself into police in connection with the shooting death of a 26-year-old Milan man here earlier this week.

According to a news release from the Monmouth Police Department, Spencer Sage turned himself in at 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday and is currently being held in the Warren County jail.

Sage has been charged with first degree murder for the shooting death of Romel Gilliam.

The release notes that Sage was a suspect in the shooting incident that took place in the 300 block of South Ninth Street at 7:02 p.m. on Monday. Gilliam was found at the scene and transported to OSF Holy Family Medical Center where he later died due to his injuries.

Warren County State's Attorney Thomas Siegel said that an investigation is still ongoing as to whether there are more suspects and whether additional charges will be filed.

Siegel said that the ongoing police investigation suggests the shooting was the result of a botched drug deal and that Sage has been identified as a person who fired shots from a vehicle at the scene.

"We believe that this is not a random shooting and that it is believed to be the result of, I'll call it, a drug deal that went wrong," Siegal.

Previously: Police: Man dies after Monday night shooting in Monmouth

Sage had his first hearing at 11 a.m. today before Judge Nigel Graham. Siegel said that Graham found probable cause for trial and that bond has been set at $500,000.

Warren County Public Defender Mr. Alex Whitman had been appointed to Sage, though the defendant may hire private council. The next preliminary hearing will take place in the Warren County courthouse on June23.

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: 18-year-old Monmouth, IL, man turns himself in for shooting death