MARION – Several arrests have been made in connection with a series of drive-by shootings that have taken place over the past several weeks in Marion, Herrin and Carbondale.

According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, as the result of collaborative investigative efforts, the sheriff’s office Sunday located a vehicle of interest which had ties to various criminal activities. The vehicle and individuals were believed to be connected to an unlicensed bar in Williamson County which was the site of a large fight where firearms were brandished, and several batteries occurred. Sheriff Jeff Diederich says individuals occupying the vehicle are persons of interest related to the series of drive-by shootings throughout our communities.

Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle and it initially fled at a high rate of speed. While fleeing the suspects attempted to dispose of evidence which was later recovered. As a result of this investigation four handguns were recovered and are believed to be items of interest in the drive-by shooting investigations.

Subjects were arrested and booked into the Williamson County Jail for the following offenses:

Juvenile (Name Withheld): Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, Reckless Driving, No Valid Driver’s License, Possession of Adult Use Cannabis in a Motor Vehicle, and multiple traffic offenses.

Ambrose N. Godsey: Mob Action and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

Michael O. Evans: Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Possession of Adult Use Cannabis in a Motor Vehicle.

Lawrence Abernathy: Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, and Contributing to the Criminal Delinquency of a Minor.

Davaughn L. Graves: Mob Action and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

Carbondale Chief of Police, Stan Reno stated, “With the mobility of criminal activity in the region, residents should remain confident that law enforcement throughout Southern Illinois work in concert to hold violent offenders accountable. These arrests are instrumental in the investigations of recent shootings in Carbondale. I am proud of the collaboration of local law enforcement to bring these offenders to justice.”

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Carbondale Police Department, Carterville Police Department, Energy Police Department, Herrin Police Department, Marion Police Department, Jackson County State’s Attorney Joe Cervantez, and Williamson County State’s Attorney Ted Hampson.