Coroner: Peoria man struck and killed by vehicle, not from gunfire

PEORIA (25News Now) - A Peoria man died early Saturday after being struck by a car early Saturday, not by gunfire despite nine rounds fired at the scene, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said on Monday.

Peoria Police responded to shots fired just after midnight Saturday and found Kobe J. Johnson, 24, on the roadway in the 200 block of East Thrush Avenue, near Knoxville Avenue. He was unresponsive, wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a pulse, said Harwood in a news release.

Johnson was taken to OSF St. Francis Medical Center and pronounced dead at 1:30 a.m. Harwood said there’s no evidence Johnson was hit by gunfire even though a ShotSpotter alert indicated nine rounds were fired.

“The autopsy on Mr. Johnson demonstrates that he suffered multiple blunt-force trauma and crush injuries after being struck by a motor vehicle,” said Harwood.

Harwood said Kobe J. Johnson, 24, was found on the roadway in the 200 block of East Thrush Avenue, between Knoxville and Peoria avenues.

So far, police have not provided a description of the car or driver.

Police said the incident as a death investigation, not as a hit-and-run.

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