The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks,
The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and
spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."
Man shot in leg outside CCHS during basketball game
A 17-year-old Carbondale man shot a Carbondale Community High School assistant football coach in the leg Friday night in the school's parking lot during a junior varsity basketball game.
According to Carbondale Police, Trevis S. Thompson shot 33-year-old Bradley A. DeDecker once in the left thigh with a small-caliber handgun after the two went outside to continue an argument that apparently began inside the school's gym.
DeDecker was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he was treated and released for injuries that were not life threatening.
Thompson was arrested and charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated battery with a firearm, possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.
Aggravated battery with a firearm is a Class X felony, which could result in a 15-to-60-year Illinois prison sentence and up to a $25,000 fine.
Each of the other charges is a Class 1 felony, which carries a six-to-30-year sentence in an Illinois correctional facility and up to a $25,000 fine.
Because the incident occurred near the high school, Thompson could see his fines and sentences be much higher than they normally would.
According to Illinois law, if possession or sale of any illegal drug is within 1500 feet of a school, church, public park or movie theater, the court may double the person's fine and sentence.
Illinois law also states if a firearm is in possession at the time of an illegal drug arrest, the court may also double the person's fine and sentence.
Thompson was charged in October in Jackson County in a previous incident with two counts of aggravated battery with a weapon, aggravated discharge of a firearm and knowingly damaging property valued more than $300. No trial date has been set for those charges.
According to witnesses who saw the shooting, DeDecker yelled "You shot me!" and tackled Thompson to the ground. DeDecker was able to slow Thompson until other help arrived.
Thompson allegedly tried to run from the scene but was apprehended by Carbondale Police Sgt. Don Priddy, who was already at the high school working security during the basketball game, and Carbondale Community High School Principal John Dively.
During the apprehension, the gun fell out of Thompson's jacket and was recovered by police.
Carbondale Community High School District No. 165 Superintendent Steve Sabens said Thompson is not a student of the high school.
Sabens said he has complete confidence in Carbondale Police and said the district and its high school would not provide any additional details from the shooting.
"We really aren't going to provide any additional information beyond what the CPD has already provided," Sabens said. "That's just simply due to the fact that it's going to be turned over to the state's attorney on Monday. We're going to leave the investigation, any further information and any of the details in the hands of the police and the state's attorney's office."
The superintendent, who was at the junior varsity game at the time of the incident, said he and the district would review their school security procedures to prevent any other shootings from happening again on school grounds.
Thompson is being held at the Jackson County Jail in Murphysboro, and his bond is set at $250,000.
