(MT. VERNON, IL) — An 18-year-old Mt. Vernon man was arrested by Benton police late Saturday night in connection with the shooting death of 20-year-old Carlos Johnson earlier in the day in the 700 block of South 25th Street in Mt. Vernon.
According to Mt. Vernon police, Roderick Shondale Oats Jr, was arrested at 11:39 p.m. without incident. MVPD learned of Oats’ possible location during the investigation and requested Benton police locate and arrest him. The shooting took place around 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the 700 block of South 25th Street. Officers responded to a call about shots fired. Shortly after they arrived they received a call from Good Samaritan Hospital reporting a person was in the emergency room with gunshot wounds. That person, identified as Johnson, later died from his injuries.
Oats remains in the Franklin County Jail where he awaits transport back to Mt. Vernon and the formal filing of charges once the case is reviewed by the Jefferson County State’s Attorney. He is currently awaiting trial in Marion County on weapons charges. Oats was arrested in January after the vehicle he was in was reportedly seen leaving a party in Salem where a double shooting had just occurred. A Salem man has since been convicted for those shootings. Reports indicate Oats was stopped in the Denny’s parking lot in Salem and he allegedly admitted to police that he had a gun in his pants pocket. The .38 caliber weapon was reportedly loaded with four bullets and the hammer was cocked. Deputies initially arrested Oats for alleged unlawful use of a weapon but further investigation revealed that in 1982 the gun had been stolen in Massachusetts. That resulted in an additional charge against Oats of possessing a stolen firearm.