A pair of teenagers have been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing a 70-year-old man by driving a stolen vehicle through the gate of a Peoria tow yard.
Jaylin Polnitz, 16, and Terrance Shaw, 18, each had arrest warrants issued on charges of first-degree murder in the death of William Collier of Bartonville on June 9 at Billie Jo’s Towing, located in the 1500 block of West Lincoln Avenue. The Peoria Police Department arrested Polnitz on Friday.
Terrance Shaw was taken into custody without incident Saturday and transported to the Peoria County Jail.
According to the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office, police in Peoria responded to the tow yard at 3:44 p.m. in response to a stolen vehicle. Two people – later identified as Polnitz and Shaw – tried to flee the yard in a stolen vehicle while employees tried to close the gate, according to the state’s attorney.
The teens sped up to run through the gate, allegedly hitting Collier and another person. Both employees were transported to a hospital, where Collier eventually died.
Despite Polnitz’s age, he is being tried as an adult due to the seriousness of the charges.
The Peoria Police Department is still investigating the accident, noting that Shaw is considered armed and dangerous Anyone with further information on the case is asked to contact police at (309) 673-4521 or provide an anonymous tip through their Tip411 service. They can also contact Crime Stoppers at (309) 673-9000.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Teenagers charged with first-degree murder in death of 70-year-old man at Peoria tow yard
Reporting by Zach Roth, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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