JACKSON COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY
Joseph A. Cervantez, State’s Attorney
Jackson County Courthouse · 1001 Walnut Street · Third Floor · Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7200 · Fax (618) 687-7215
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joseph A. Cervantez, Jackson County State’s Attorney
Date: July 27, 2023
Jackson County State’s Attorney Joseph A. Cervantez announced today that David Edwards, Jr., age 30, of Carbondale, Illinois, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections, after a sentencing hearing held on July 27, 2023. State’s Attorney Cervantez was the prosecuting attorney and conducted the sentencing hearing for this case.
On October 3, 2022, Carbondale Police Officers responded to the 700 block of South Lewis Lane, regarding shots fired. During the investigation, officers located the victim, John Pruitt, age 37 of Carbondale, Illinois. Edwards, Jr. was taken to an area hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.
The Carbondale Police Department led a thorough investigation, which led to the arrest of David Edwards, Jr. Pruitt and Edwards, Jr. were known acquaintances and had an ongoing dispute. Jackson County
After arguments and the presentation of video evidence, the Court sentenced David Edwards, Jr. to 40 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Edwards will have to serve 100% of the sentence. State’s Attorney Cervantez explained that “this incident is tragic, and the subsequent investigation is yet another example of the professional dedication and expertise of the Carbondale Police Department and the law enforcement community here in Jackson County.”
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the SIU Police Department, the Jackson County Coroner’s Office, the Jackson County Ambulance Service, and the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office all assisted in the investigation.
A prosecutor has the responsibility of a minister of justice and not simply that of an advocate. This responsibility carries with it specific obligations to see that the defendant is accorded procedural justice and that guilt is decided upon the basis of sufficient evidence. Except for statements that are necessary to inform the public of the nature and extent of the prosecutor’s action and that serve a legitimate law enforcement purpose, by Supreme Court Rule, the State’s Attorney is not allowed to make statements about pending cases or investigations which would pose a serious and imminent threat to the fairness of the proceeding. Rule 3.8 Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor. For a list of certain subjects which have been determined to pose such a threat to the fairness of the proceedings and for a list of subjects which do not, please see Rule 3.6 Trial Publicity. For any press release involving a case which has not yet been tried, please note that: a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of the jury.