News Local/State

Witness Intimidation Charges Filed in Redding Murder

By Jim Meadows
 

Champaign Police report additional charges --- and another arrest --- in connection with the June 24th murder of Allen Redding in the Garden Hills neighborhood.

38 year old Markeeta McFarland of Champaign was arrested Tuesday afternoon for allegedly intimidating a witness in the case.

Champaign Police Lt. Robert Rea says McFarland is suspected of working with brothers Devon and Paul Craig, who were already in custody in connection with the shooting.

37-year-old Devon Craig is charged with Redding's murder. His brother, 39-year-old Paul Craig, is charged with being an armed habitual criminal, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. The two have now face the Intimidation charge as well.

Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness is a Class 2 felony for which carries a prison sentence of 3 to 14 years.

The shooting death of the 26-year-old Redding is one of several shooting incidents reported in Champaign and Urbana this summer.

Police are still seeking a third suspect in the shooting, Micah Hopkins, 30, of Champaign.

Anyone with information on the shooting, or the efforts to intimidate witnesses, is asked to contact Champaign Police at (217) 351-4545 or Champaign County Crime Stoppers at (217) 373-8477 (TIPS), or by texting keyword "CCTIP" plus the information to 274637 (CRIMES).