Man sentenced to 123 years for Bloomington murder

Posted on July 25, 2024
Bloomington police are still looking for a third suspect, James Moon, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Bloomington police at (309) 820-8888. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By WMBD-TV

BLOOMINGTON – A man was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison on Monday for the death of Jaleel Johnson in Oct. 2020.

According to McLean County Circuit Court records, Malcolm J. Johnson, 31, was sentenced to serve 123 years in prison. That breaks down to 75 years for murder, 45 years for attempted murder and three years for obstructing justice.

With credit of about 3 1/3 years already served and whatever credit he could receive within the Department of Corrections, he could be released from prison in about 110 years. That’s barring a successful appeal.

In May, a jury found him guilty after a weeklong trial.

On Oct. 12, 2020, the McLean County Coroner pronounced Jaleel Johnson dead from a single gunshot wound to the head after a shooting near Iowa Street and Euclid Avenue in Bloomington.

Another man, Kevon Moon, 25 was also charged in connection with the shooting. Online court records show he is to be sentenced Aug. 1 after a jury trial was held in May. However, those records do not indicate what charges he was convicted of.

Both were charged with identical counts and both were tried at the same time, according to online court records.

Bloomington police are still looking for a third suspect, James Moon, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Bloomington police at (309) 820-8888.

WMBD-TV can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…