PEORIA, Ill. – A Central Peoria teenager now faces as long as 30 years in prison for allegedly shooting his friend in the head and killing him.
Eighteen-year-old Michael Howard appeared in Peoria County Circuit Court on Friday, two days after he allegedly pointed a gun at the head of his friend, Howard Scott Jr., and pulled the trigger. Howard had initially been arrested for first-degree murder, but the charges he now faces are merely aggravated battery with a firearm and involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors sought a $500,000 bond but Peoria County Judge Rebecca Steenrod lowered that to $50,000.
Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons said he was angered by the lowered bond.
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