Man accused of shooting two people in a southern Illinois park arrested in Indiana

A man accused of shooting two people in a Centralia park has been arrested in Indiana, according to Illinois State Police.

Shavonte D. Samuels, 18, of Centralia, is charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, police said in a news release.

The shooting happened April 17 at Laura Leake Park, according to the release. Two people were taken to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Agents from the Division of Criminal Investigation of the state police “ were able to identify Samuels as the suspect,” the release states.

Samuels was arrested Wednesday in Anderson, Indiana, where he is being held in the county jail.

No further information was released.

This story was originally published May 19, 2023 at 8:27 AM.