Trial for Quincy man facing attempted murder charge in TJ Maxx shooting scheduled to begin Dec. 9

QUINCY — The trial for a Quincy man facing a charge of attempted first-degree murder and four other felony charges stemming from a July 6 shooting incident in the TJ Maxx parking lot at the Prairie Trails Crossing shopping center will be heard during the jury docket that begins Dec. 2.

Alan Pacheco, 22, appeared with attorney Ryan Schuenke before Judge Michael Atterberry for a pretrial hearing in Adams County Circuit Court on Friday morning in Adams County Circuit Court. Schuenke and First Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler both said they were prepared for trial.

Eyler said he believes the trial could take three or four days, and he asked Atterberry if the start of the trial could be delayed until Dec. 9 because of “scheduling issues.” Schuenke did not object.

Pacheco has been charged with:

• Two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony punishable for between five and 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, for discharging a firearm at Terrance D. Horton and Islam D. Woodson.
• One count of aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony punishable for between six and 30 years in prison, for discharging a firearm and causing injury to Horton.
• One count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony punishable for between one and three years in prison, for knowingly possessing a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield 9mm handgun when he was not on his land, his home or his fixed place of business.
• One count of attempted first-degree murder, a Class X felony punishable for between 25 years to natural life in prison, in that he knowingly discharged a firearm with intent to kill Horton. 

Officers from the Quincy Police Department were dispatched at 2:28 p.m. Saturday, July 6 to 6210 Broadway to a shooting incident in the parking lot in front of TJ Maxx. Officers from the Quincy Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Department and the Illinois State Police responded and found Horton on the ground with apparent gunshot wounds. 

Pacheco was taken into custody after returning to the scene.

Schuenke argued during a July hearing that Woodson and Horton stalked Pacheco and his girlfriend as they were shopping at TJ Maxx, then attacked them as they sat in Pacheco’s vehicle. He said Pacheco acted in self-defense when he shot Horton and fired his weapon at Woodson but intentionally shot at the ground to scare him.