Stabbing Death Of Derrick Wade

County of Peoria

KEVIN

W.

LYONS

STATE'S ATIORNEY GENERAL OFFICES (309) 672-6900

PEORIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE PEORIA, ILLINOIS 61602

June 16, 2009 For Public Release: Stabbing Death of Derrick Wade

I have instructed today that Kendrick D. Nellum be released from custody. He will face no criminal charges for the stabbing death of Derrick Wade on June 15, 2009. Peoria police were called to the Lexington Hills apartment complex at around 2:00am on a report of a man beating a woman. That man was Derrick Wade. The fight maneuvered through a public hall and stairwell and into the woman's apartment. Once there, Kendrick Nellum, a relative of the female, attempted to separate Wade and the woman but Wade continued to assault her and Nellum, using a knife from the kitchen of the woman's apartment, stabbed Wade once in the back. Apparently, once was enough, and Wade bled to death, In a refreshing change for police, when they arrived, they found that witnesses, and everyone involved, had remained at the scene and that everyone was willing to give an honest account of what had just happened . Mr. Nellum admitted that he had stabbed Wade and why. He showed them the knife. Witnesses, when separately interviewed, told what they saw and heard and their accounts were consistent with Kendrick Nellum's. Sorting out witnesses and their descriptions of events takes time. Peoria police officers and detectives moved timely in gathering necessary facts so that my office could make an informed assessment of the case and determine what, if any, criminal charges should be lodged. They were assisted by witnesses who remained and were willing to help the criminal justice system help them . This cooperation from citizens does not always occur, but in this case it did and both police and prosecutors appreciate it. I, therefore, rule that the death of Derrick Wade was caused by a justifiable stabbing inflicted by Kendrick D. Nellum in the defense of another during a criminal battery that was being committed by Derrick Wade. Kendrick D. Nellum will face no cri 'nal charges for this act and he is ordered released from custody.

VINW. LYONS State's Attorney