Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – (UPDATE 10/16) A 48-year-old Springfield man was arrested Monday afternoon after Springfield police executed a search warrant in the 2000 block of S. 15th St. Ventellis B. Cooper was arrested on weapons violations and now faces charges in connection with the shooting death of Antoine Williams. The victim was found by officers in a vehicle early Sunday and was transported to a local hospital, but did not survive.

Cooper was charged by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated unlawful use of a firearm and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Cooper made his first appearance on the charges Wednesday and was detained. His next court date is set for October 31.

(UPDATE 10/14) – Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon has released the identity of the man found with a gunshot wound in a vehicle near South 17th Street and East Cook Street Sunday morning. Preliminary autopsy findings show 39-year-old Antoine Williams of Springfield died from multiple gunshot wounds. The case remains under investigation.

(10/13) A homicide investigation in underway after Springfield police found a man with a gunshot wound in the front seat of a vehicle early Sunday.  Just after 1 a.m., officers responded to the area of 17th and Cook Street for a report of shots fired. Although transported to a local hospital and treated, the man did not survive.