Suspect wanted in Thanksgiving Day homicide arrested by Peoria police

A suspect wanted by police in connection with the Thanksgiving death of 18-year-old Matthew Smith was arrested Saturday and charged with first-degree murder, according to a news release from the Peoria Police Department. 

Police say 24-year-old Martarius J. McGee turned himself in Saturday and, following an interview with police, was arrested in the shooting that left Smith dead in the 300 block of Thrush Avenue in Peoria's East Bluff neighborhood on Thanksgiving Day.

With Smith's death, Peoria has now recorded 33 homicides in 2021 – adding on to an already record number of homicides in decades.

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McGee is also charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. 

This is the 19th time McGee has been arrested by Peoria police, according to jail records. 

Police say there are no other suspects in this case but the investigation is ongoing. 

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What happened in the case?

Police were called at 11:06 a.m. Thursday to the 300 block of East Thrush Avenue on reports of a shooting. A ShotSpotter gunfire detection alert reported five shots in the area. 

Once there, officers were told an 18-year-old man had been taken by private vehicle to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, where Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Smith, who lived in the 3200 block of North Wisconsin Avenue, was pronounced dead at 11:39 a.m.