Arrest made in stabbing homicide near Bradley University

PEORIA, Ill. – An arrest has been made in Peoria’s first homicide of 2026.

Peoria Police says 21-year-old Tavion Evans was developed as a suspect in the stabbing death of 35-year-old Zachary White last week.  The stabbing occurred the evening of March 5th in the area of Underhill and Russell.

Peoria Police says Evans was found Wednesday in the back of a residence in the area of Martin Luther King Junior Drive and Cedar Avenue, and taken into custody without incident.

Evans was questioned by police, then arrested for First Degree Murder, as well as three active warrants, and taken to the Peoria County Jail.