CRIME

Suspect in WIU shooting being held in Chicago on $1 million bond

Nick Vlahos
nvlahos@pjstar.com
Kavion Poplous

MACOMB — The Western Illinois University student accused of shooting his roommate earlier this week is to return to Macomb soon to face charges.

Kavion Poplous was being held on $1 million bond in the Cook County Jail in Chicago, according to McDonough County State’s Attorney Matt Kwacala.

Poplous, 18, of Chicago was arrested Wednesday after he surrendered to police in that city. He departed Macomb following the shooting, which took place about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in a residence hall on the WIU campus.

Charges filed against Poplous are two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count each of aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

If convicted, Poplous might face a mandatory minimum of six years in prison and as many as 45 years.

The McDonough County Sheriff’s Office is arranging with Cook County counterparts for Poplous to be transported to Macomb over the weekend or early next week, Kwacala said Friday.

Kwacala would not comment about specifics regarding Poplous’ case.

Following an initial court appearance where Poplous is to be informed of the charges against him, a preliminary hearing is to be scheduled. More details about what might have happened Tuesday night at Thompson Hall are expected to be revealed then.

According to WIU, a male student was injured in the shooting. It was related to a dispute between roommates.

WIU did not identify the injured student. But WLS-TV (7) in Chicago identified him as Amarion Hargrove, a WIU freshman.

Hargrove attended Bloom Trail High School in Steger, according to WLS. He also played basketball for the Bloom Township team that combines athletes from Bloom Trail and from Bloom high school in Chicago Heights.

"While at Bloom, Hargrove was a model student and great teammate who worked hard, was always respectful, and maintained a level of maturity and poise even in the most stressful circumstance," Bloom coach Dante Maddox wrote in a statement WLS reported.

An Amarion Hargrove is listed as residing in Sauk Village, which is just east of Chicago Heights.

The shooting victim first was transported to McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, then to another hospital WIU did not identify. The only major trauma center in central Illinois is located at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

When asked about Hargrove’s medical condition, an OSF spokeswoman stated she could not provide any information about that person. When asked subsequently if Hargrove was a patient at St. Francis, the spokeswoman stated she could not confirm it.

Poplous family members spoke in his defense.

Family spokesman Darryl Smith told the Chicago Sun-Times the accused is a godly child and not a monster. Smith said Poplous returned to Chicago because he was scared.

“He came home and turned himself in, which takes courage,” Smith told the newspaper. “We’re waiting on the truth to come out.”

Poplous is from the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s south side.