Centralia Police have made an arrest in an April 21st shooting in the 900 block of East Kell where a woman was shot in the face.
44-year-old Nathan Johnson of Saddler Street of Centralia was taken into custody with the assistance of the US Marshal’s office at a residence in the Belleville area. He has since been transferred back to the Marion County Jail where he is being held in lieu of $1-million bond on a warrant issued earlier for attempted murder.
The victim, 30-year-old LaQuisha Lockett of Centralia, was initially taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia and later transferred to a St. Louis hospital for treatment. She is out of the hospital now, but still recovering from the injury.
Police reported the incident began with some children fighting at the same location. When the parents and adults got involved, the situation reportedly escalated and Johnson left, allegedly went and retrieved a gun, then returned and shot Lockett. He left the scene before police arrived.
Centralia Police officers and detectives immediately began to interview witnesses and obtain possible video in the area. But due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, it took weeks to be able to talk to her.
Centralia Police later submitted the completed investigation to the Marion County State’s Attorney’s Office resulting in the arrest warrant being issued.
Centralia Police investigations then worked with the public trying to locate Johnson. They asked for assistance from the US Marshalls Office which located Johnson at a residence in the Belleville area.
The Centralia Police Department would like to thank the public along with the Marion and Clinton County Sheriff’s Departments, Central City Police Department, Wamac Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the US Marshalls Office, and the Marion County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Johnson is presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
