‘He’s not a monster,’ Chicago family says of freshman charged in shooting on Western Illinois campus
The charges against a college freshman accused of shooting another student at Western Illinois University are out of line with his character, a family spokesman said Thursday.
Kavion Poplous is a “godly child” and “he’s not a monster,” family spokesman Darryl Smith said Thursday.
Smith has been talking with Poplous’ mother since the shooting late Tuesday, which university officials said stemmed from a “roommate dispute.”
Poplous, 18, of Englewood, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm in McDonough County.
Smith said the Poplous family is “tightknit” and has retained an attorney for Poplous’ extradition hearing in Cook County.
The shooting happened about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Thompson Hall dorm on Western Illinois University’s main campus in Macomb, a town about 70 miles west of Peoria.
The 18-year-old shooting victim underwent surgery for a gunshot wound.
Poplous turned himself in to Chicago police Wednesday afternoon. He came back to Chicago “because he was scared,” Smith said.
“He came home and turned himself in — which takes courage,” Smith said.
Poplous’ LinkedIn page said he’s worked at Starbucks part time and graduated from Wendell Phillips Academy High School. He is studying business, marketing and management.