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Summary: Damien C. Gardner, 36, died from a gunshot wound in Quincy, Illinois, on February 17, 2026, after an early-morning altercation at a local residence. Authorities arrested Stephen J. Mosley, 36, on first-degree murder charges following a brief standoff. Two accomplices, Shelby Wires, 34, and Kimberly Brown, 21, face charges for aiding his escape and obstructing justice, reports say.
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QUINCY, Ill. (DailyKenn.com) — Authorities in Quincy arrested a local man hours after he allegedly shot and killed another resident in a north-side home, leading to charges against him and two women accused of helping him evade capture.
The sequence began shortly after midnight on Feb. 17, when emergency responders arrived at a residence in the 800 block of North Sixth Street following reports of gunfire. Officers found Damien C. Gardner, 36, suffering from a gunshot wound, according to police accounts. Paramedics rushed him to Blessing Hospital, where medical staff pronounced him dead soon after arrival.
Investigators quickly identified Stephen J. Mosley, 36, as the primary suspect, noting that he and Gardner were acquaintances. Mosley fled the scene immediately after the shooting, prompting a manhunt that involved Quincy police detectives, patrol units, the Adams County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police. By mid-morning, authorities released his description to the public, warning that he might be armed.
Around 1 p.m. that day, law enforcement surrounded a home in the 900 block of North 11th Street, about five blocks from the crime scene. Several people inside initially ran out and were detained, but Mosley remained hidden. After a brief standoff, he surrendered peacefully to a special response team, police reported.
Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates commended his team's swift work, resolving the case within 13 hours. He extended sympathies to Gardner's loved ones during a news briefing, while withholding specifics on any potential motive or altercation to protect the ongoing probe. The firearm used in the attack has not been located, officials added.
Mosley faces three counts of first-degree murder, which could result in a sentence of 25 years to life upon conviction. Two women, Shelby Wires, 34, and Kimberly Brown, 21, both from Quincy, were later taken into custody for allegedly assisting Mosley post-incident. They are charged with concealing or aiding a fugitive and obstructing justice; Wires also faces a count of unlawful ammunition possession as a felon.
All three appeared before an Adams County judge on Feb. 18 for initial hearings. Mosley was ordered held without bond pending trial.
Residents in the area expressed shock at the violence, with some neighbors describing the event as sudden and senseless. Gardner's relatives gathered outside the courthouse, sharing memories of his recent efforts to rebuild his life. His mother spoke of the profound grief, emphasizing that no family should face such loss and calling for accountability. Friends recalled Gardner's commitment to sobriety—he had reached four months clean on the day of his death—and his volunteer work supporting the homeless, highlighting his aspirations to become a social worker and guide others away from hardship.
The investigation continues, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.
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