Prosecutors gain third conviction for 2019 Bloomington killing

Posted on August 3, 2021
Amari McNabb, 22. (Photo courtesy: HOI/ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A McLean County jury has found a man guilty of first-degree murder, but determined he wasn’t the shooter who killed another man in Bloomington in April 2019.

Amari McNabb, 22, is the third man convicted in the shooting death of Juan Nash, 25, in the 1200 block of Orchard Road.

The jury deliberated about six hours over two days before returning the guilty verdict on murder and mob action charges, while finding McNabb not guilty of aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Jurors rejected McNabb’s claims of self-defense. Co-defendant Scotty Allen, 21, is serving 50-years in prison and Exodus Hebert, 20, was given 20-years behind bars.

The state’s attorney’s office argued the trio plotted to kill Nash to retaliate for a murder that happened in Bloomington months earlier. Prosecutors said the three men believed Nash’s brother was involved in killing Trevonte Kirkwood, 27, who was shot to death in October 2018 in the 1300 block of North Oak Street. Nash’s brother has not been charged in that case.

Judge Casey Costigan is scheduled to sentence McNabb this fall. McNabb faces up to 60-years in prison on the murder charge.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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