Update: Illinois Shooting & Murder Of Gregory Hostetler

The Macon County Sheriff’s Office has unveiled further details surrounding the tragic shooting that unfolded near Five Star Auto Sales in Hervey City on Monday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the community. The sequence of events began to unfold at 2:40 p.m., when authorities received distressing reports of gunfire in the vicinity of the business establishment.

Upon arrival at the scene, deputies were confronted with a grim reality: Gregory Hostetler, a 48-year-old pillar of the community and co-owner of Five Star Auto Sales and Greg’s Towing and Recovery, lay motionless, having succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Alongside Hostetler, Kolby Sunderland, an 18-year-old employee, was discovered with a gunshot wound to his shoulder, a testament to the violence that had erupted at the otherwise unassuming location.

Investigations swiftly revealed the catalyst for this tragedy: a routine service call earlier in the day, wherein Hostetler and Sunderland towed a vehicle, only for the situation to spiral out of control when Tiimon Perry, a 25-year-old individual seeking to retrieve his vehicle, contested the towing fees. What began as a verbal altercation over financial matters quickly devolved into a physical confrontation, culminating in Perry brandishing a handgun and unleashing a volley of gunfire that claimed Hostetler’s life.

In a valiant attempt to thwart the assailant, Sunderland courageously intervened, seeking to wrest the firearm from Perry’s grasp. However, his heroic efforts were met with further violence as Perry callously fired upon him, inflicting a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Despite his injury, Sunderland’s resolve remained steadfast, and he managed to wrest control of the weapon, retaliating by firing a single shot that struck Perry in the testicles, effectively neutralizing the threat.

(via Macon County Sheriff’s Office)

The aftermath of this harrowing ordeal saw both Perry and Sunderland transported to Decatur Memorial Hospital for urgent medical attention. While Sunderland was fortunate to be treated and subsequently released, Perry’s injuries necessitated surgery before he could be placed under arrest. Presently confined to the hospital, Perry awaits transfer to the Macon County Jail, where he faces a litany of charges, including first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Furthermore, Perry’s legal woes are compounded by existing warrants, underscoring a history of legal entanglements. As authorities contemplate additional charges pending a comprehensive review by the Macon County State’s Attorney, Perry’s unlawful possession of the firearm used in the commission of the crime serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent dangers posed by illicit firearms in the hands of individuals devoid of legal authorization.

A GoFundMe has been created for Greg here: https://gofund.me/42c02709