Bloomington shooting suspect, Charles Bell, set on high bond

The judge set bond for Bell at $500,000, meaning he has to pay 10% of that or $50,000 cash to be released from jail. (Photo by Stephen Z/flickr)

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON (Heart of Illinois ABC) – The McLean County State’s Attorney’s office filed formal charges Thursday against a Bloomington man accused of shooting another man near the downtown area Tuesday night.

The six felonies against Charles Bell, 33, include aggravated battery by firing a gun, a Class X crime carrying a maximum 30-year prison sentence if he’s found guilty.

Bloomington shooting suspect Charles Bell(25 News/Heart of Illinois ABC)

The judge set bond for Bell at $500,000, meaning he has to pay 10% of that or $50,000 cash to be released from jail. He remained in custody Thursday night.

Bell is accused of shooting a 28-year old man in the arm after what police said was a personal dispute between the two men. Police said the gunshot victim was taken to Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Officers and detectives said they searched Bell’s residence and seized two guns.

Among the other charges is that Bell is forbidden to have a gun because he’s a felon, having been convicted in a 2006 McLean County residential burglary case.

Bell’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 15 in McLean County Court.

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