Coroner identifies Rock Island man killed in shooting

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (KWQC) - According to the Rock Island County Coroner, 21-year-old Omari Braxton of Rock Island was found dead Saturday afternoon from a gunshot wound to the head.

A man was arrested Sunday in connection with the shooting.

Derrick B. Nephew Jr., 29, was arrested at 2:40 a.m. Sunday in Davenport by the Davenport Police Department on a first-degree murder warrant, Rock Island police said in a media release.

Also, Steven Strickland 29, of Davenport was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with accessory after the fact and harassment of a public official or employee, according to court documents. Strickland helped Nephew Jr. get a hotel room after the shooting, police said.

Online records show he was still in the Scott County Jail as of Monday morning.

As of Wednesday, according to court documents, Nephew Jr., is still being held in the Scott County Jail in connection to an unrelated case. He’s serving 30 days for contempt in an old paternity case.

Rock Island County prosecutors in the murder case have filed a petition to keep him behind cars while the case is pending, court documents show.

The incident happened on Saturday when Rock Island Police officers responded at 4:43 p.m. for a report of a gunshot victim inside the Maple Ridge apartment complex in the 3700 block of 5th Street.

Police said they found Braxton in the parking lot. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Later that night, the police department’s Criminal Investigations Division obtained an arrest warrant for Nephew and he was arrested in Davenport, according to RIPD.