Champaign man convicted in fatal shooting

URBANA — A jury in east-central Illinois has convicted a Champaign man of first-degree murder for his role in the death of a 34-year-old man gunned down while with his wife and children.

The jurors deliberated for about five hours before finding 20-year-old Demarco Taylor guilty Monday for his role in the 2008 shooting death of James Ellis. The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports that Taylor faces between 20 and 60 years in prison when he's sentenced on Aug. 1.

Champaign County Assistant State's Attorney Dan Clifton says prosecutors believe another man shot Ellis, but Taylor was present and also had a gun when Ellis was killed.

Two other defendants await trial in the case. A fourth defendant pleaded guilty in March to a lesser charge and was sentenced to four years in prison.