On 11-03-19 the City of Carbondale Police Department investigated a homicide in the 500 block of South Illinois Avenue. The victim, Keon Lavonte Cooper, was found shot to death. Carbondale Detectives identified Thomas Evans Jr., Tyren Johnson and Olando Sheron as suspects in the homicide. Officers previously arrested Evans Jr. for Concealing or Aiding a Fugitive and Johnson for Murder in this case. The Carbondale Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Sheron for First Degree Murder as well. Sheron fled the area and was not immediately located.
The Carbondale Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force located in Southern Illinois, the Eastern District of Missouri in Cape Giradeau, Missouri and the Missouri Highway Patrol began working a joint investigation to locate Sheron and arrest him on the warrant. During the investigation, information was developed that Sheron was evading arrest and residing in Southern California.
The U.S. Marshals Service, Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles, CA, comprised of officers from the California Department of Corrections, the Gardena Police Department, the Torrence Police Department and the Long Beach Police Department assisted in the investigation to locate Sheron.
On 10-26-21, members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Sheron in Gardena, CA. Sheron was taken into custody and is being held in the Los Angeles County Jail awaiting extradition to Illinois. This case is being prosecuted by the Jackson County States Attorney’s Office.
We continue to keep Keon Cooper’s family in our thoughts and prayers. The Carbondale Police Department appreciates all of the assistance by other law enforcement agencies and the countless hours dedicated by Carbondale Police Department investigators to bring the suspects to justice.
Olando Terrel Sheron, 26, Lake St. Louis, Mo.
***Previous Release***
On 11-12-19 Deputies with the Cape Girardeau County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department arrested Thomas Durell Evans Jr., 30 years old of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on a warrant for charges of Concealing or Aiding a Fugitive related to the death of Keon Cooper on 11-03-19. Evans is currently incarcerated in the Cape Girardeau County, Missouri Jail awaiting extradition to Illinois.
Thomas Durell Evans, 30 years old of Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at (618) 457-3200. You may also call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (618) 549-COPS (2677) or the Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at (618) 687-COPS (2677). Anonymous tips may also be made by selecting the “Crime Stoppers” tab located on the main page of this website. Please help yourself, along with your county, its communities and the university campus by using these numbers if you witness, or have any information pertaining to, a crime. Cash rewards for information which leads to an arrest are also made anonymously. Remember, crime doesn’t pay, but Crime Stoppers does!
***Previous Release***
On 11-07-19 at approximately 11:00 a.m., officers and investigators with the Heartland Fugitive Task Force in Southeast Missouri and the Sikeston, Missouri Department of Public Safety arrested Tyren Johnson, 21 years old of Sikeston, Missouri, on a Jackson County, Illinois warrant for charges of Murder related to the death of Keon Cooper on 11-03-19. Johnson is currently incarcerated in the Scott County Missouri Jail awaiting extradition to Illinois.
As a result of this investigation, Carbondale Police Detectives also obtained an arrest warrant for Olando Sheron, 24 years old of Sikeston, Missouri, for charges of Murder. In addition, Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Thomas Durell Evans Jr., 30 years old of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for charges of Concealing or Aiding a Fugitive. Sheron and Evans have not been located and are both considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information about this investigation or the whereabouts of Sheron and/or Evans, is encouraged to contact the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 618-549-COPS (2677).
Tyren Johnson, 21 years old of Sikeston, Missouri
Olando Sheron, 24 years old of Sikeston, Missouri
Thomas Durell Evans, 30 years old of Cape Girardeau, Missouri
***Previous Release***
On 11-03-19 at approximately 1:22 a.m., the City of Carbondale Police Department received numerous calls of shots fired in the 500 block of S. Illinois Avenue. Officers already in the area on foot, located a gunshot victim with life-threatening injuries. The investigation revealed the victim, Keon Cooper 27 years-old of Carbondale, was talking to three black male suspects outside of his vehicle in the parking lot, when he was shot by two of the suspects armed with handguns. All three suspects fled in a black newer model Kia Optima or similar style vehicle.
Officers performed life saving measures on Cooper and the Jackson County Ambulance Service drove him to the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale where he was pronounced deceased. The suspects are described as follows:
Suspect #1: Black male, average build, unknown height, gray or white and black zip up hooded jacket, white t-shirt underneath, long black braided or dread-lock hair, baggie clothes, early 20’s, armed with a handgun.
Suspect #2: Black male, average build, unknown height, white hooded sweatshirt, faded blue jeans with a dark stripe down the outside, long black dread-lock style hair, early 20’s.
Suspect #3: Black male, thin build, dark colored hooded jacket with a white symbol or name on the left chest area, armed with a handgun.
The suspects are considered armed and dangerous. The investigation is currently active and ongoing. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, S.I.U. Department of Public Safety, the Jackson County Ambulance Service, the Jackson County Coroner’s Office and the Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at (618) 457-3200. You may also call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (618) 549-COPS (2677) or the Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at (618) 687-COPS (2677). Anonymous tips may also be made by selecting the “Crime Stoppers” tab located on the main page of this website. Please help yourself, along with your county, its communities and the university campus by using these numbers if you witness, or have any information pertaining to, a crime. Cash rewards for information which leads to an arrest are also made anonymously. Remember, crime doesn’t pay, but Crime Stoppers does!