Sheriff: Fairbury homicide victim may have been ‘mistaken’ for someone else

Authorities say a Lincoln man found dead following a shooting at a park near Fairbury may have been mistaken for someone else by the alleged shooter. 

Jefferson County Sheriff Nels Sorensen told Channel 8 Eyewitness News Friday that 28-year-old Marc Jarrell might not have been the intended target of a shooting officials said occurred last week. Five people – Jerry Gilbert, Caitlyn Grable, Trey Saathoff, Realidy Schram and Logan Evans – have been arrested across the course of the investigation. 

“I believe some of them knew each other, to what degree I don’t know yet,” Sorensen said. “I do believe he was mistaken for someone else.”

Gilbert is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder and weapons counts. The others are being held on lesser charges. 

Authorities said Jarrell was shot to death on July 1. His body was found Monday at on a road outside Fairbury. 

Jarrell’s mother, Deborah Kelley, told Channel 8 Eyewitness News her son was loving, kind, and harmless. 

“He was a great boy,” she said. “He loved his siblings, nieces and nephews. It was like he lived for his nieces and nephews. He wouldn’t harm anybody”

Members of the community have set up a small memorial at the park in Jarrell’s honor. 

Kelley said, while she hopes those responsible for her son’s death will be brought to justice, nothing will ease the pain of her loss. 

“Even if they go to jail and prison for murdering my son…that’s not going to bring my son back,” she said. 

A candlelight vigil was scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Crystal Springs Park.