CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — One man in Champaign County is pleading guilty to the murder of two people.
The incident took place last year during a pop-up party near Cynthia and Anita Drives in Champaign. Corey Butler, aged 22, faced 10 charges of murder and one charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, but he is now having most of these charges dropped through a plea agreement.
The Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office stated that Butler pleaded guilty to one charge of first-degree murder prior to trial proceedings. As part of the agreement, the remaining charges were dismissed, resulting in Butler receiving a 25-year prison sentence.
Police reported that in July of the previous year, they responded to a call at an apartment complex parking lot, where four individuals had been shot. Among those were 18-year-olds George Dorris-Rodgers and Daniyjah Staple, who both lost their lives.
Now almost a year later, Staple’s cousin said he’s glad to have a conviction, even though he was hoping Butler would spend more time behind bars.
“I did talk to some friends. They were actually, had the same reaction as most of us,” said Dajuan Lane, cousin of Daniyjah Staple. “They were thinking this sentence wasn’t that long or there should have been more, or even worse. So, a lot of us had the same reaction for it.”
Lane said he and Staple were close growing up, and he will continue to help make sure her memory lives on.
He also said he’s been talking to local officials about a way to honor his cousin in Champaign. Lane said those talks are still ongoing.
