Officers of the Urbana Police Department were notified early on January 16, 2026, of a shooting that resulted in injuries in a residential section of Urbana, Illinois, in the 1200 block of Ellis Drive.
When they got there at 1:48 a.m., they saw an adult guy who had been shot and was seriously injured. Officers responded to the emergency situation promptly and professionally by starting to administer life-saving measures on the scene.
The victim, later identified as 52-year-old Benancio Crowley of neighboring Champaign, was promptly transported by emergency services to Carle Foundation Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Despite the efforts of first responders and hospital staff, Crowley succumbed to his injuries and was formally pronounced dead at 2:56 a.m. that same morning. The Champaign County Coroner’s Office handled the identification and scheduled an autopsy to further determine details surrounding the cause of death.
Upon initial investigation at the scene, authorities noted that the alleged shooter had fled and was not present when police arrived. Urbana Police detectives, working alongside Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigators, secured the area and began a thorough examination, processing evidence and canvassing for potential witnesses in the early hours following the incident.
The breakthrough came later that afternoon when, at approximately 2:12 p.m., Urbana Police, assisted by the Champaign Police Department’s SWAT Team, executed an arrest in the 1900 block of Blackthorn Drive in Champaign. The individual taken into custody was 19-year-old Charles Lake, whose apprehension stemmed directly from leads developed during the ongoing probe into Crowley’s death. This swift arrest on the same day as the shooting highlighted the coordinated efforts between local law enforcement agencies.
As the investigation remains active, authorities have emphasized the need for public assistance, urging anyone who was in the vicinity of Ellis Drive around the time of the shooting, observed unusual activity, or possesses surveillance footage to come forward. Tips can be shared directly with Urbana Police or anonymously through Crime Stoppers, with potential rewards offered for information leading to further resolutions in the case.
The Urbana Police Department has extended sincere condolences to Benancio Crowley’s family and friends, acknowledging the profound loss amid this tragic event. With the probe continuing and additional details expected to emerge, the community awaits further clarity on the circumstances that led to this fatal shooting in the early hours of January 16, 2026.