Sheriff's Office Apprehends Murder Suspect

UPDATE 3/26/24 

On March 21, 2024, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Dontreal L. Spencer, Jr., 31, of the 1600 block of South 14th Street in Springfield. The warrant charged Spencer with three counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, and one count of Possession of a Weapon by a Felon. Spencer is currently on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections for a 2019 conviction for Robbery and a 2021 conviction for Mob Action.

On March 26, 2024, at approximately 9:20 a.m., the United States Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force and Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office apprehended Spencer at his residence in the 1600 block of South 14th Street in Springfield. Spencer was taken to the Sangamon County Jail to await a pre-trial detention hearing.

The investigation is ongoing. Multiple items of evidence have been submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for forensic testing, and detectives continue to locate and identify witnesses.

The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office thanked the United States Marshals Service, the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office, and the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office for their cooperation and assistance in this investigation.

Original Story

The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office responded to 304 North Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, Illinois, on March 18, 2024, at approximately 9:09 pm, for a reported shots fired call.  Upon arrival, a male subject was found inside a vehicle with a suspected gunshot wound.  The subject was transported by ambulance from the scene and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

On Tuesday, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon, identified the victim as Aaron Suttle, 47, of Springfield. An autopsy was done on Tuesday and preliminary findings suggest Suttle died from the gunshot wound.

An unknown black male subject was observed running east away from the scene.  Detectives with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office are still investigating the shooting. 

According to Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, Detectives are trying to locate and interview additional witnesses, and continue to collect evidence. The suspect, a black male wearing black pants and a white short-sleeve shirt, was last seen running towards Clearlake Avenue after the shooting.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting should contact the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at 217-753-6841 or Crime Stoppers at 217-788-8427.