Lamaree E. Wilson-Neuleib
October 26, 2015 10:20 am • By Tara Becker
A 17-year-old Moline man pleaded guilty Monday in Rock Island County Circuit Court to charges that he fatally shot one man and seriously injured another.
Lamaree E. Wilson-Neuleib will be sentenced Nov. 25 by Judge F. Michael Meersman on one count each of first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.
As part of the plea with prosecutors, Wilson-Neuleib faces a maximum of 60 years in prison on the charges.
Police say Wilson-Neuleib fired multiple shots at Zachary M. Phillips, 18, and Erik Roberson, 20, both of whom were in the front of a vehicle at 53rd Street and 47th Avenue in Moline about 10:35 a.m. May 20.
Phillips was pronounced dead at Genesis Medical Center, Silvis, shortly after the shooting. Roberson was airlifted to University Hospitals, Iowa City, and was later released.
A third person in the backseat was not injured.
Ballistics testing conducted on recovered shell casings and projectiles was an exact match to a handgun found near the scene. The handgun, prosecutors said, belonged to the father of Wilson-Neuleib.
A motive for the shooting has “never been fully understood by the police,” Rock Island County State’s Attorney John McGehee said after the plea hearing.
In Illinois, prosecutors are not required to prove motive.
Wilson-Neuleib, shackled and wearing a dress shirt and tie, quietly answered Meersman's questions during the plea hearing.
The courtroom was packed with relatives of both Wilson-Neuleib and Phillips, who wore T-shirts and buttons bearing his name and picture.
McGehee said he expects Roberson to make a statement at sentencing.
“He is doing the best he possibly can,” McGehee said. “These are difficult times for him. ... He does have permanent injuries from this crime. It has not been an easy road."
Wilson-Neuleib remains in the Mary Davis Juvenile Detention Center in Galesburg on a $2 million bond. Once sentenced in the case, he could remain in the custody of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice until he turns 18 before sent to adult prison. He also could stay in juvenile detention until he reaches the age of 21.
McGehee said although the judge can make a recommendation on how much time Wilson-Neuleib will spend in juvenile detention, the decision ultimately will be made by the department of juvenile justice and the Illinois Department of Corrections.
A 17-year-old Moline man pleaded guilty Monday in Rock Island County Circuit Court to charges that he fatally shot one man and seriously injured another.
Lamaree E. Wilson-Neuleib will be sentenced Nov. 25 by Judge F. Michael Meersman on one count each of first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.
As part of the plea with prosecutors, Wilson-Neuleib faces a maximum of 60 years in prison on the charges.
Police say Wilson-Neuleib fired multiple shots at Zachary M. Phillips, 18, and Erik Roberson, 20, both of whom were in the front of a vehicle at 53rd Street and 47th Avenue in Moline about 10:35 a.m. May 20.
Phillips was pronounced dead at Genesis Medical Center, Silvis, shortly after the shooting. Roberson was airlifted to University Hospitals, Iowa City, and was later released.
A third person in the backseat was not injured.
Ballistics testing conducted on recovered shell casings and projectiles was an exact match to a handgun found near the scene. The handgun, prosecutors said, belonged to the father of Wilson-Neuleib.
A motive for the shooting has “never been fully understood by the police,” Rock Island County State’s Attorney John McGehee said after the plea hearing.
In Illinois, prosecutors are not required to prove motive.
Wilson-Neuleib, shackled and wearing a dress shirt and tie, quietly answered Meersman's questions during the plea hearing.
The courtroom was packed with relatives of both Wilson-Neuleib and Phillips, who wore T-shirts and buttons bearing his name and picture.
McGehee said he expects Roberson to make a statement at sentencing.
“He is doing the best he possibly can,” McGehee said. “These are difficult times for him. ... He does have permanent injuries from this crime. It has not been an easy road."
Wilson-Neuleib remains in the Mary Davis Juvenile Detention Center in Galesburg on a $2 million bond. Once sentenced in the case, he could remain in the custody of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice until he turns 18 before sent to adult prison. He also could stay in juvenile detention until he reaches the age of 21.
McGehee said although the judge can make a recommendation on how much time Wilson-Neuleib will spend in juvenile detention, the decision ultimately will be made by the department of juvenile justice and the Illinois Department of Corrections.