Collinsville, Illinois

From the Belleville News-Democrat of August 25, 2006

Grand jury clears Collinsville man

A Madison County grand jury declined to issue any charges Thursday against a 36-year-old Collinsville man who fatally shot another man during a gunfight.

The grand jury heard testimony from witnesses and was given the option of charging the survivor with first-degree murder and second-degree murder. A prosecutor said the grand jury determined the survivor, who was shot three times before returning fire, acted in self-defense.

Will Joe Hunt, 25, died of a gunshot wound to the head Aug. 5 at a home in the 100 block of Idlerun Drive in Collinsville. Police and prosecutors declined to release the name of the man who shot him.

Madison County Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Vucich said testimony indicated that Hunt and the survivor got into an argument at the survivor's home, then Hunt left and got a gun. Hunt returned and began firing shots, then the survivor, who was inside his home, grabbed a gun and went onto his porch.

"The guy who's still alive was shot three times, and he returned fire," Vucich said.

The survivor was shot three times in the leg.

Vucich said it's not clear what the argument was about. When police arrived after the gunfire, a crowd of about 100 people had gathered at the scene. Police from other agencies were called in to help control the crowd.