Quincy man facing attempted murder, armed violence charges in stabbing pleads not guilty

QUINCY — A Quincy man facing six felony charges, including attempted murder, pled not guilty to all of them during his arraignment Tuesday morning.

Jeremy J. Coleman, 29, appeared with Public Defender Christopher Pratt before Judge Tad Brenner. He was wearing a jail-issued shirt on which he had written “Free Jay Innocent” on the back.

Coleman has been charged with: 

• Two counts of attempted murder, a Class 1 felony punishable for between four and 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if found guilty.
• One count of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony punishable for between three and seven years in prison.
• One count of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony punishable for between two and five years in prison.
• Two counts of armed violence, a Class X felony punishable for between 10 and 30 years in prison.

Coleman would be eligible for 50 percent sentencing under Illinois’ truth in sentencing law on the first four counts. He would be eligible for 85 percent sentencing on the two counts of armed violence.

Coleman’s case was placed on the March jury docket. His next appearance in court is a status hearing on Feb. 6.

Officers responded just before 11 a.m. on Dec. 7 to the 600 block of Van Buren for a disturbance. When officers arrived, they found two victims on the roof of a building, both suffering from stab wounds. 

Charging documents filed in Adams County Circuit Court show the victims were Sajuada Bonner and Julian Harper. Bonner was listed as a “family member” of Coleman’s.

Officers rendered medical aid to the victims, applying tourniquets to control the bleeding until the Quincy Fire Department and Adams County EMS arrived. Both victims were transported to Blessing Hospital.

Detectives with the Quincy Police Department Investigations Unit processed the crime scene and interviewed multiple people on this case. QPD notified the administration at Quincy Notre Dame High School and Blessed Sacrament School since the incident happened in their neighborhood and both schools were put on alert.

Coleman turned himself into the Adams County Probation Department on the morning of Dec. 8.