DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — A Danville man, aged 33, has been acquitted of all three first degree murder charges he faced for more than two years after a fatal shooting.

On May 4, 2023, Danville Police were called to the 1200 block of Chandler St. due to a report of an ongoing fight. During the altercation, a shot was fired, resulting in the death of 33-year-old Christopher J. Smalls of Danville from a gunshot wound. Following the investigation, Brandon A. Buford, who was 31 at the time, was apprehended the next day on three first degree murder charges.

On July 17, 2025, a jury found Buford not guilty of the three following first-degree murder charges:

• Two charges of murder/intent to kill/injure
• One charge of murder/strong prob kill/injure

The trial spanned four days, and the jury deliberated for slightly over four hours on Thursday before making a decision. Since his arrest, the now 33-year-old Buford of Danville had been held by the Vermilion County Sheriff.

WCIA reached out to the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office and Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy for a statement regarding Thursday’s verdict but have not immediately received a response back. Buford’s attorney, Alfred Ivy, could not be reached for comment.