Bloomington man jailed on $2 million bond charged in January 2022 gang-related shooting

Posted on January 5, 2023

police car — *A public defender is representing Thornton, whose next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 27. (WJBC file photo)*

BLOOMINGTON – A man arrested early Sunday by Bloomington Police was wanted for a gang-related shooting in January of last year just north of the downtown area.

A warrant was issued for Ronald Thornton’s arrest last February. Gunfire in the 600 block of North Main Street wounded a man who was a passenger in a vehicle fleeing the scene, according to police. A tavern window was also damaged.

The man who was shot, Javares Hudson, 21, did not suffer life threatening injuries. The McLean County court system’s website said charges filed against Hudson for allegedly having a machine gun or automatic weapon were dismissed.

Thornton, who is 23, faces six felony charges including aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a gang member, aggravated discharge of a firearm at an occupied building, reckless discharge of a firearm, and not having a valid FOID or firearms owners identification card.

A judge on Tuesday decided to keep Thornton’s bond at $2 million, meaning he has to come up with 10% of that or $200,000 cash to be released from the McLean County Jail.

A public defender is representing Thornton, whose next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 27.

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