MONROE — A young Monroe man, accused of first-degree murder in the street shooting death of 24-year-old Montrell Scott in Freeport last year, continues to await trial in Stephenson County.

Police have said the gunfire on Feb. 10, 2022, that led to his arrest may have been gang related. 

Meanwhile, there have been a number of pre-trial motions and a hearings on the case. His hearing on Wednesday resulted in more activity around the legal discovery process and another continuation of the criminal trial, records indicate.

Still, evidence is likely coming in and being shared. In July of last year, subpoenas were issued to a dozen potential witnesses on behalf of the prosecution in a single day. 

“We are still awaiting more of the discovery material for the case,” said Rockford-based defense attorney Aaron C. Buscemi, who is representing the defendant.

Buscemi maintained his client’s innocence and said he has not made a demand for speedy trial.

Scott was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of aggravated discharge of a machine gun. After the gunfire, Scott, 20 at the time of the shooting on Dexter Street, fled.

Early in the investigation, police said they believed the incident was not a random crime.  A warrant was issued for the defendant’s arrest on April 12. Scott was later located in a vehicle, and was caught after a brief foot chase by members of the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force and Freeport Police officers. 

He remains in the Stephenson County Jail on $1 million bond, a previous effort at a bond-reduction in court failed. The charges against him are Class M and Class X felonies in Illinois with a maximum possible prison sentence of 20 years to life in prison. 

Police have said the two men share a last name and are apparently unrelated.

According to court records, Christopher Scott was convicted in 2018 of two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm near a vehicle/school. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison and it is unclear how he was freed so soon after -- only to be accused of another gun crime. 

The victim, according to court records, has a long history of arrests for misdemeanor crimes including drug possession, but no apparent felonies in Stephenson County.

The defendant’s next status hearing in the case is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 21 in Stephenson County Circuit Court.