Probable cause was established Monday, linking defendants to the Oct. 24 shooting into a 12th Street residence.

Coles County Circuit Court Judge Mitch Shick ruled probable cause relating Marc D. Griffin, 21, Chicago, and Crystal P. Lovemore, 19, 1151 Johnson Ave., undeclared undergraduate, with aggravated discharge of a firearm charges.

Shick ruled the prosecution’s witness, Detective Kevin Paddock, offered enough information to establish the burden of proof.

Paddock testified that shots were fired into a home, 1514 12th St., where seven people were present on the night of Oct. 24.

He said witnesses on the scene identified Lovemore and Griffin as being on the property prior to the shooting.

Witnesses identified Lovemore as having a sexual relationship with 1514 12th St. resident Amral L. Johnson, junior sociology major and Panther football player, prior to the shooting.

Johnson told police he and Lovemore fought over his relationship with another female prior to the shooting.

According to Paddock, Lovemore told Johnson during the fight she “can have him killed” and that her boyfriend in Chicago had a gun.

Johnson, Kyle E. Hill, former Eastern basketball player of Bolingbrook, and Lovemore reportedly told police Johnson was involved in a fight with Griffin at Eastern’s First Annual Johnetta Jones Memorial Homecoming Step Show.

Lovemore told police she was struck in the fight.

William G. Bumphus, psychology major, told police he saw Griffin, Lovemore and a vehicle matching the one Griffin was driving when arrested behind the house prior to the shooting.

Griffin reportedly asked Bumphus to send his friends outside.

Hill and Johnson then told police Griffin tapped on the window and said, “Do you want to gun play?”

Shots were then fired at the residence, police were called and Griffin and Lovemore were stopped in a “gold colored 2000 Dodge Intrepid” near Domino’s Pizza on Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue, Paddock said.

The house’s occupants were then brought to the scene where they identified Griffin, Lovemore and the vehicle.

Paddock testified Officer Bennett asked Griffin at the arrest scene if he owned a gun. Griffin reportedly told Bennett he owned a nine-millimeter gun in Chicago.

A trace on Griffin’s FOID card revealed Griffin purchased a 45-caliber Smith and Wesson in September. Paddock said the gun is a semiautomatic with a seven-shot capacity.

“There was no information on the purchase of a nine-millimeter,” Paddock said.

The crime scene technician reportedly told Paddock that shell casings found at and around the 12th Street residence were 45-caliber casings.

The technician also said casings found at the scene of an on-campus shooting near Lantz Arena that same night “were similar in brand, make and model” to those found at the residence.

Griffin was reported wearing a No. 15 New Jersey Nets “Kidd” basketball jersey during the step show fight. That shirt was later found at Lovemore’s residence, Paddock said.

Griffin’s Attorney, Brenda Pryor of Chicago, verified during cross-examination that only one street light was lit where the 12th Street residents reported seeing Griffin, Lovemore and the vehicle.

Lovemore’s attorney David Stevens questioned charges of accountability for the shooting, saying there is “no evidence Lovemore aided, agreed or attempted aid,” in the incident.

Assistant State’s Attorney Duane Deters said her threat, her involvement in a fight on Eastern’s campus the night of the shooting and her presence in Griffin’s vehicle at the time of arrest was enough to determine probable cause.

Shick ruled probable cause in both cases, and each attorney submitted not guilty pleas for their clients and requested jury trials.

A status hearing for co-defendants Griffin and Lovemore is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 2 at 11 a.m.

Deters said attorneys will communicate and share police reports and other documents before the status hearing, where details for a jury trial will be decided.

If convicted of the Class One Felony charges, Deters said the defendants could be sentenced to four to 15 years imprisonment, with possibilities of probation.

Associate News Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected]