Half-century in prison for Bloomington man convicted of 2018 homicide

Posted on June 29, 2022

gavel — McLean County Judge Casey Costigan gave Thornton 25 years for murder and 25 more years for using a gun to commit the crime. Thornton’s attorney plans to appeal, claiming his client is too young for an enhanced penalty that amounts to a life-in-prison sentence. Thornton was 18 at the time of the killing. (WJBC file photo)

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man was sentenced Tuesday to 50-years in prison for a fatal shooting in the Twin-Cities almost four years ago.

A jury in February convicted Jordyn Thornton, 22, of first-degree murder for shooting-to-death Trevonte Kirkwood in the 1300 block of North Oak Street in Bloomington in October 2018. It was an unprecedented year for homicides in McLean County, with the State’s Attorney’s office winning murder convictions in each of the 11 cases.

Authorities said Kirkwood, who was 27, suffered three gunshot wounds, including a fatal wound just above the heart. His mother, Dameca, went on to become an outspoken advocate to reduce gun violence.

McLean County Judge Casey Costigan gave Thornton 25 years for murder and 25 more years for using a gun to commit the crime. Thornton’s attorney plans to appeal, claiming his client is too young for an enhanced penalty that amounts to a life-in-prison sentence. Thornton was 18 at the time of the killing.

Prosecutors sought 65 years in prison. Thornton is not eligible for good-time credit, so he must serve the entire sentence.

Co-defendant Quentin Jackson, 24, of Peoria, who was arrested with Thornton for Kirkwood’s death, was sentenced in January to 17 1/2-years in prison. Jackson pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm, based on a theory of accountability. Prosecutors dismissed murder charges against Jackson in exchange for his guilty plea.

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