PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria police say they have arrested 30-year-old Maurice Graves in connection with the Oct. 5 shooting death of Dionna Causey, a 30-year-old woman found shot three times inside a vehicle that had crashed into a local business. Graves was tracked to Milwaukee and taken into custody on Thursday, Oct. 15, ending a 10-day hunt for the suspect in the killing.
TL;DR: Maurice Graves was arrested Oct. 15 at a home in Milwaukee by Peoria police working with the U.S. Marshals Service. He is charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 5 shooting death of Dionna Causey, 30, who was shot three times and found inside a crashed vehicle in Peoria. Graves was transported to Milwaukee police headquarters for questioning. He remains accused, not convicted.
Ten Days on the Run
The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for Graves’ arrest, and the Peoria Police Department — working with U.S. Marshals — found him Thursday, Oct. 15, at a home in the 7800 block of West Oklahoma Avenue in Milwaukee, according to the Journal Star.
Graves was taken into custody and transported to the headquarters of the Milwaukee Police Department for questioning by Peoria police detectives. He was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder in Illinois.
The arrest came 10 days after the killing that brought national attention to a quiet afternoon in Peoria — a shooting, a crash, and a woman found mortally wounded inside a wrecked car.
The Shooting and the Crash
At 1:18 p.m. on Oct. 5, Peoria police responded to the 1900 block of West Antoinette Street after receiving a report of shots fired. While officers were on their way to the scene, they received word that a vehicle had crashed into a business in the 600 block of Western Avenue — with a possible gunshot victim inside.
When they arrived at the business, they found Causey. She had been shot three times. She was transported to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, where she died at 5:22 p.m., according to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood.
The precise sequence — whether Causey was shot before or as the vehicle crashed, and whether she or someone else was behind the wheel — has not been publicly detailed. The homicide remains under investigation.
What Happens Next
Graves is accused of first-degree murder. In Illinois, a first-degree murder charge carries some of the harshest penalties in state law, but it is important to remember: an arrest is not a conviction. Graves is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the charge in court.
Extradition proceedings will determine when Graves is returned to Illinois to face the charge. Peoria detectives questioned him in Milwaukee, and investigators say the homicide remains an active investigation — meaning more details, and possibly more charges or arrests, could follow.
Anyone with further information is being asked to contact Peoria police at (309) 673-4521 or provide an anonymous tip through their Tip411 service.
For Causey’s family and friends, the arrest brings the first measure of answers in a case that began with a crash into a Peoria storefront and ended, hours later, in a hospital room. The motive for the shooting has not been publicly released.
Photo: Peoria Police Department facility, Peoria, Illinois. Source image: Russ Bassett/RussBassett.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Peoria shooting?
Maurice Graves, 30, was arrested Oct. 15 in Milwaukee on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Dionna Causey.
Where was Graves arrested?
Peoria police, working with the U.S. Marshals Service, found Graves at a home in the 7800 block of West Oklahoma Avenue in Milwaukee.
Who was the victim?
Dionna Causey, 30, of Peoria. She was shot three times on Oct. 5 and died later that day at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center.
When and where did the shooting happen?
On Oct. 5 at 1:18 p.m., Peoria police responded to reports of shots fired in the 1900 block of West Antoinette Street. They then learned a vehicle had crashed into a business in the 600 block of Western Avenue with a possible gunshot victim inside — that victim was Causey.
When did the victim die?
Causey died at 5:22 p.m. on Oct. 5, according to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood.
What is Graves charged with?
First-degree murder. He is accused, not convicted, and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Who issued the arrest warrant?
The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office issued the warrant for Graves’ arrest.
Is the investigation over?
No. Police say the homicide remains under investigation, and more details could follow.
How can someone provide a tip?
Anyone with information is asked to contact Peoria police at (309) 673-4521 or provide an anonymous tip through the department’s Tip411 service.
