Peoria man killed in West Marquette Street shooting

Coroner identifies 23-year-old victim Marnelius Alexander

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:21pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single spent bullet casing on a dark concrete surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the aftermath of a deadly shooting incident.The aftermath of a deadly shooting exposes the grim reality of gun violence in Peoria's neighborhoods.Peoria Today

The Peoria County Coroner has released the identity of a man who was killed in a Wednesday night shooting on West Marquette Street. Marnelius Alexander, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the chest. Another 19-year-old man was also shot in the leg during the incident but survived with non-life-threatening injuries.

Why it matters

Gun violence remains a persistent issue in Peoria, with this latest shooting adding to the city's ongoing challenges with public safety and community trauma. The coroner's identification of the victim provides some closure, but the investigation into the motives and circumstances behind the attack continues.

The details

According to the coroner's report, Marnelius Alexander suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest that proved fatal. The shooting occurred just before 11 p.m. on Wednesday in the 1000 block of Western Avenue, after police responded to a ShotSpotter alert. A second victim, a 19-year-old man, was also shot in the leg outside a nearby AutoZone store and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

  • The shooting occurred just before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • Marnelius Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:45 p.m.

The players

Marnelius Alexander

A 23-year-old Peoria resident who was killed in the shooting.

Jamie Harwood

The Peoria County Coroner who released the identity of the victim.

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What’s next

The Peoria Police Department continues its investigation into the shooting, seeking to determine the motives and circumstances behind the attack.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the ongoing challenges Peoria faces with gun violence and community safety. While the coroner's identification of the victim provides some closure, the community will be looking for answers and solutions to prevent such senseless acts of violence in the future.