UPDATED 4:32 p.m.
Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Twenty-four people from two rival gangs have been arrested for multiple violent crimes between August, 2024 and this month, including several murders.
According to a news release from Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser, the indictments charge all 24 with racketeering conspiracy under the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law. 15 of the defendants are facing other charges. All range in age from 16 to 29. RICO conspiracy charges carry potential prison sentences of up to 30 years in prison, or up to life if the offense resulted in death.
According to Milhiser’s office, those charged were done by grand juries, and were sealed until arrest. Those arrested are slated to make court appearances Tuesday and Wednesday. Twelve were already in custody in Sangamon and Macon Counties, or within the Illinois Department of Corrections. Those already in custody will be in court over the next couple weeks.
According to a separate Springfield Police news release announcing the same arrests, they claim in searches the last two days, investigators also found 4.5 pounds of suspected methamphetamine in one of the suspect’s homes, along with around one pound of suspected marijuana.
“We must work together to identify and hold accountable those causing violence in our community. We will continue to work with law enforcement partners to keep our community safe,” said Milhiser, in a news release.
“Public safety remains the Springfield Police Department’s highest priority,” said Springfield Police Chief Joe Behl, also in a news release. “Gang activity, gun violence, and other violent crime have no place in our community. We will continue to utilize every available resource and lawful tool to identity, investigate, and hold violent offenders accountable.”
“Partnerships with fellow law enforcement professionals help keep our community safe,” said Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch, also in the news release. “I would like to thank the Sangamon County State’s Attorney , the Springfield Police Department, the Illinois State Police Crime Lab and the hard-working investigators of the Sheriffs Office for their tireless efforts in protecting the residents of Sangamon County and helping to remove violent offenders from our streets.”
The arrests were from two allegedly rival gangs: “Shoot Quick Avoid Death (SQAD),” AND “Boss Playas (BP),” said the news release. Milhiser says the group was involved in four homicides, other shootings, the possession and trading of more than 12 guns, and possession of controlled substances.
Who was arrested
Representing SQAD
- Ricky Dickerson, aka “Freak,” 24
- James Jones, aka “Spazz,” 25
- Michael Turner, aka “Drina,” 29
- Calvin Shepherd, aka “50,” 22
- Zisean Jackson, aka “Zi,” 22
- Jonesy Blackmon, 20
- Konie Williams, aka “Cozy,” 24;
- Malik Allison, aka “Lik,” 24
- Makai Allison, 22
- Courtlan Williams, aka “Com,” 25
- Brysean Wallace, aka “Lil Wet,” 19
Representing BP
- Jeremiah Wesley, aka “J-D0t” or “Drench,” 21
- Darnell Wilson, aka “Pnut,” 22
- Anthony Momoh, aka “Lil Tone,” 20
- Terrell Broomfield, aka “Scoom,” 21
- Jerw Broomfield, aka ‘ ‘Murda” or “Whoopa,” 24
- Isaiah Wesley, aka “Big Opp,” 23
- Eugene Lewis, aka “Chop,” 24
- Kevin Spearman, aka “Lil Kev,” 22
- Clard Cross, aka “Grimey,” 18
- Alonzo Lewis, aka “Zilla,” 23
- Yusef Perry, aka “YuYu,” 18
- Aiden Brown, aka “Ferb,” 19
- A 16-year-old juvenile
(SOURCE: Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser news release)
The most serious crimes
Milhiser’s release highlights the four most serious crimes the gangs were involved in, which were homicides. According to the release:
- September 29, 2024 – Shooting and murder of Telley Palmer. He was shot 14 times after an incident earlier in the night with the rival gang.
- January 4, 2025 — Shooting and murder of Lajarvious Smith. He was shot 16 times after being mistaken as a rival gang member.
- October 9, 2025 — Triple homicide that included the murder of nine-year-old Cash Russell. This was a home invasion and murder that occurred based on an earlier burglary of drugs from a rival gang.
- January 8, 2026 — Shooting and murder of Barrion Sanders. This murder was in response to Barrion Sanders beating up a rival gang member at a local prompt care on January 2, 2026.
- January 10, 2026 — Possession of fully automatic machine guns with extended magazines in a stolen vehicle by four gang members dressed in all black and masked who were driving around looking for rival gang members to retaliate for the Barrion Sanders murder.
(SOURCE: Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser news release)
