Bloomington Police say they’re hoping that witnesses step forward with new information that leads to an arrest in the unsolved killing of a 20-year-old last year.
Dylan Meserole of Normal was shot and killed Feb. 12 during a party at an apartment in the 1600 block of West Olive Street in Bloomington, near the Sunnyside Court public housing complex. Police had responded to a report of people fighting. It was one of five fatal shootings in Bloomington in 2022.
No arrests have been made in Meserole’s killing. Bloomington Police say that “without the assistance of the community, this homicide may go unsolved.”
“We know numerous people were there and either witnessed it or could put people there,” BPD Chief Jamal Simington told WGLT. “We’re trying to encourage the cooperation of those potential witnesses, or someone who may know of a witness or the offender, to provide new information to us.”
Meserole was a witness who testified in the 2020 murder trial of Anthony Grampsas, who was convicted of killing Egerton Dover in Bloomington. The state agreed to forgo criminal charges against Meserole in exchange for his cooperation with the case.
Simington said BPD and other departments have observed a recent uptick in uncooperative witnesses, some due to fear of retaliation. He said authorities can offer some protections for those witnesses and are “willing to do all we can to protect a witness of the court.”
Last week, Bloomington Police renewed calls for the public’s assistance, including on social media.
“It’s an opportunity to open up the door again and remind the community: We’re only as good as the information we receive from the community,” Simington said. “You have forensics, of course. But you also need other pieces to put the puzzle together. We’re looking for some major pieces to allow us to bring closure to the family and take someone before the court and hold them accountable for the unfortunate murder of Mr. Dylan Meserole.”
Those with information are asked to contact Detective Jesse Lanphear at (309) 434-2369 or jlanphear@cityblm.org.
