Camp Point teen pleads guilty to second-degree murder in August 2023 shooting death; sentence capped at 15 years

QUINCY — A Camp Point man pled guilty Monday afternoon in Adams County Circuit Court to second-degree murder in an August 2023 shooting death, and when he receives his sentence next month, it will be capped at 15 years.

Wyond Bynum Jr., 19, appeared before Circuit Judge Holly Henze on Monday afternoon with Mark Taylor and Jonathan Hoover from the Adams County Public Defender’s office.

Bynum had been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, a Class M felony, in the Aug. 14, 2023, shooting death of Jaycob Rowland in Camp Point.  He pled not guilty during his arraignment on July 18. Because of a 25-year enhancement for using a firearm, Bynum could have been sentenced to between 45 years and natural life in the Illinois Department of Corrections had he been found guilty on those counts. He also would have served 100 percent of any sentence that is not natural life.

In exchange for his guilty plea, those three counts were dismissed. Adams County State’s Attorney Todd Eyler filed an amended charge of second-degree murder on Jan. 2.

Bynum will be sentenced Feb. 24. He is eligible for 50 percent sentencing under Illinois’ truth in sentencing law.

Before providing a factual basis to prove Bynum’s guilt, Eyler explained to people in attendance that he had met with members of Rowland’s family on several occasions. He said Sybil Rowland, the victim’s mother, was not in agreement with the plea deal.

“She does not want to see this defendant spend the rest of his life in prison, but she does not agree with the negotiation,” Eyler said. “We have talked about issues that give rise to the negotiation. We have also talked about issues that she relies on in suggesting that there should be a different outcome. Part of that is from prior incidents between the victim and the defendant.”

Bynum and Rowland were involved in a “violent altercation” at the Casey’s General Store in Camp Point on July 24, 2023. Rowland was charged with aggravated battery in a public place, a Class 3 felony, and criminal damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor. Another police report details that on Aug. 2, 2023, Bynum was involved in a criminal damage of property incident. 

“From a legal standpoint … there are certain limitations we’re only allowed to bring up, and/or use, certain actual events,” Eyler said. “I understand 100 percent and completely why the mother of the victim in this case thinks what she thinks, but there are some things that are tied to it, whether we like it or not in this case, because of the law.”

Eyler then read a statement of facts from the Adams County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation.

Deputies were dispatched to 505 W. Jefferson in Camp Point in the early morning hours of Aug. 14, 2023. Jaycob Rowland had been found shot at the scene and later pronounced dead at Blessing Hospital. Emergency medical services (EMS) also was dispatched to that location but eventually met at the fire station in Coatsburg with Blake Sisk and Dekota Schaler, who were transporting Rowland and his mother in a truck.

Sisk told deputies that he and Schaler had been out driving around earlier that night when they saw Rowland and asked if he wanted a ride, which he declined. Sisk then told deputies that Bynum had run out of the West Jefferson Street residence with a pistol and shot Rowland. Sisk and Schaler helped Rowland into the truck and started driving toward Coatsburg. EMS then transported Rowland to the hospital. 

Deputies reported finding drops and pools of blood outside the West Jefferson Street residence, as well as a bag believed to be marijuana near the blood.

As deputies continued to interview Sisk and Schaler, their story changed. They said earlier that night, Rowland wanted to set up a situation where he would “jump” Bynum. Rowland used Sisk’s phone to arrange to buy $350 of marijuana from Bynum. When Sisk drove the truck to Bynum’s home, Rowland was lying in the back seat of the truck. When Bynum came out of the home, Rowland got out of the truck and attempted to “jump” Bynum.

Sisk and Schaler reported that Bynum started to run away, and as he did, he shot Rowland multiple times.

When Bynum was interviewed by deputies, he first said he ran away as Rowland got out of the truck, and he heard gunshots that he believed were fired from the inside of the truck. Later, Bynum said when Rowland got out of the truck and ran toward him, he ran to a nearby car to get a gun from someone named Dave. He claimed to have shot once to scare Rowland, then gave the gun back to “Dave,” who Bynum claimed fired additional shots.

Bynum then changed his story once again, saying he shot Rowland once, then fired more shots at Rowland as he was running away. He claimed to have thrown the gun into a wooded area, but after a search failed to locate the firearm, Bynum told deputies he had lied again and that the gun was inside the house — which is where deputies found it.

Neither Taylor nor Hoover disputed any portion of Eyler’s account of the events from Aug. 14.