Jury selection begins July 21 in Streator shooting

A Streator man charged with shooting three people, killing one, is set to stand trial for murder July 21.

Malcolm Whitfield, 31, also listed in DeKalb, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court for a final pretrial conference.

Although attorneys previously signaled that negotiations were underway, Whitfield made only a brief appearance Friday and then exited Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr.’s courtroom without a negotiated plea.

Attorneys in the case have said they are ready for trial.

Whitfield was charged with multiple felonies, led by first-degree murder, after an investigation into the spring 2023 shooting of three people. One of the people, Shaquita Kelly, died from her injuries.

Whitfield faces a complicated sentencing range up to 145 years if convicted of first-degree murder and of shooting the two survivors.

Barring a last-minute plea, opening statements are set to begin Tuesday, July 22, after a jury is empaneled.