Streator murder trial moved to April 29

A Streator man charged in a shooting that killed a woman and injured two others had his trial moved to April 29.

Malcolm Whitfield, 30, also listed as a resident of DeKalb, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court for a final pretrial conference.

He was scheduled for a jury trial Feb. 20 in connection with multiple felonies, led by first-degree murder, in a May 6 shooting in Streator that resulted in the death of 35-year-old Shaquita Kelly.

On Friday, however, Public Defender Ryan Hamer said in open court that he and prosecutors are in negotiations. He suggested a new spring trial setting.

Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. agreed and ordered Whitfield to return to court April 19 for a motions hearing.

Whitfield, who faces a complicated sentencing range up to 145 years, remains held in the La Salle County Jail.

Still on for February is the sentencing hearing for an accessory to the May 6 shooting.

Rachael N. Carter, 37, of Streator, faces up to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty Dec. 7 to two felonies filed in connection with the shooting.

Carter will be sentenced Feb. 22 for one count of unlawful possession of a weapon and one count of aiding and abetting a fugitive. She admitted to possessing ammunition and to driving Whitfield to Memphis, Tennessee.

A separate charge alleging that she possessed a pistol was dismissed.

Based on open-court statements, Carter’s plea does not require her to testify against Whitfield.