CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — A neighborhood walk turned into a life-changing moment for Devon, a local teen, and his friends this past weekend on the 600 block of Williams Street in Danville. Devon and one of his friends were shot while walking home, though both escaped life-threatening injuries.
Tanya Lynn Fields, Devon’s mother, spoke exclusively to our newsroom about the incident and the lasting impact on her family and the community. “The toll the shooting has taken on my son, his friends, and me has been mentally and emotionally challenging, not just physical,” Fields said. “My son had the option to stay home and heal, but he wanted to get back to school. He is resilient, and I’m proud of the way he acted under pressure.”
According to Fields, Devon, who understood first aid from watching medical shows with his mother, applied a makeshift tourniquet using a t-shirt to stop his friend’s bleeding. While Devon was able to walk, his friend needed more treatment. Fields said she always knows where her son is and he is a good kid.
The shooting occurred in a quiet residential area, and Fields said no cars initially stopped to help. “The kids knew the direction from where the shots came from,” she said, adding that both victims and their siblings have been offered mental health care since the incident.
Fields emphasized that her children and their friends are not gang-related. The family’s concern for safety has been heightened, particularly after recent FBI raids a few days earlier just down the street from their home.
The trauma of this weekend’s shooting echoes other unresolved tragedies in the area. Devon is the nephew of Jamariah Webb, a Danville teen whose murder remains unsolved, and Tanya spoke about Anaya Davis, another young person from the region whose death is also unsolved. Fields expressed frustration over the ongoing violence in the community.
Despite the fear and uncertainty, Fields praised her son’s courage. “He called 9-1-1 while keeping pressure on his friend’s leg. He knew what to do, and I’m grateful he stayed calm,” she said.
Devon is physically okay, and Fields maintains a close watch over him. She hopes sharing their story will shed light on the urgent need for community action against gun violence.
