Homicide victim was to testify at murder trial

The city's latest murder victim was to testify in an upcoming murder trial, several sources have told the Journal Star.

T.C. Driver, 44, of Danville was killed with a single shot to the head Thursday morning. He was found shortly before 6 a.m. at Wisconsin Avenue and Kansas Street, near Glen Oak Community Learning Center.

Sources have said Driver was to testify at the trial of Darrin Hardimon, 28, 1902 N. California Ave., who is charged with the Feb. 6, 2011, fatal shooting of Jerrell Hartwell, 23, outside Club Apollo, 1412 SW Jefferson Ave.

On Monday, State's Attorney Jerry Brady confirmed Driver was one of his witnesses and that he was at the club on the night of the slaying. Driver was initially a suspect but was never charged in connection with the death, Brady said.

"We have significant concern as to whether or not this was a random shooting," the county's top prosecutor said. "It does not appear to be random."

Brady said "immediately" after the slaying, his office talked to other witnesses. He declined to elaborate further.

A girlfriend apparently dropped Driver off near the spot his body was found. The Kansas Street home the two shared is within a few hundred feet of the school, according to authorities. Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said last week that Driver was from Danville but apparently had been living at the Kansas Street address.

Hardimon, whose case is set for trial in late April, is accused of killing Hartwell after an apparent argument about closing time at the club, according to Journal Star archives. A surveillance camera allegedly shows Hardimon driving up in a car, getting out and firing a gun. Police were able to trace the car's license plate to a home in the 1100 block of East McClure Avenue, where they found Hardimon hiding in the basement.

Hardimon was charged but acquitted of a shooting in 2007 in Vermilion County.

In April 2009, he was charged in Peoria County with armed robbery and aggravated discharge of a firearm for allegedly shooting at someone during a robbery in the 1600 block of Northeast Madison Avenue.

The victims allegedly were holding drugs for two people, and the drugs came up missing. That led to an argument and gunshots before someone took a cellphone and money. Hardimon was arrested, but the case was dropped a few months later after prosecutors were unable to find the victim and an eyewitness.

Andy Kravetz can be reached at 686-3283 or akravetz@pjstar.com.

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JUROR NUMBER 3 JENNIFER FORD IN CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL SPEAKS TO THE MEDIA

We live in a country where we must follow the laws. Thank God people like this Juror followed the law. The only people that know for sure what happened to Caylee is God and Casey. I hope this Juror is making some money on this interview because what the state paid them for their time was not right. Jeff Ashton the Prosecutor was out doing interviews the next day selling his story to the media and that just shows what he wanted out of this. As I have always said, It was not about her being guilty, but about the win and the money.

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