Horrific...Man Shoots, Kills His Baby-Momma, Speeds Off With The Baby In A Car, Crashes It, Catching On Fire, Leaving The Baby To Perish, Ending In Standoff With Police

PEORIA COUNTY, Ill. — A 24-year-old Illinois man is in custody after authorities say a young mother was shot to death in her home and her 2-year-old son was found dead inside a burning vehicle following a crash early Friday, in what the local sheriff called a devastating case of domestic violence.

Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins identified the suspect as Jeremiah Duncan. Investigators say Heaven J. Wood, 20, was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside a residence in the 3500 block of Yorkshire Drive, in the Royal Oak Estates mobile home park, after deputies responded around 6:09 a.m. to a report of a vehicle on fire nearby. Wood was pronounced dead at OSF HealthCare St. Francis Medical Center. Coroner Jamie Harwood said she died instantly.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and found Wood’s son, KJ Duncan-Wood, 2, dead inside the car. The coroner said the child suffered severe smoke inhalation and “likely passed away moments after the fire was started.” Investigators believe the vehicle had been driven away from the shooting scene before it crashed and caught fire. It was not immediately clear whether the fire was set on purpose.

Two other children inside the home were unharmed, officials said.

Duncan was taken into custody shortly after noon Friday near Molleck Drive and Oak Crest Drive, about a quarter-mile from the scene, after a roughly six-hour manhunt. Watkins said Duncan was armed with a knife and had suffered serious burns. Deputies used less-than-lethal rounds during the arrest. He was taken to an undisclosed medical facility. The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office is expected to file formal charges.

“Today was a very tragic day in our community, with two lives lost as a result of domestic violence,” Watkins said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families and loved ones as they face an unimaginable loss.”

Video circulating on social media, including footage posted by accounts covering the case, shows law enforcement surrounding Duncan near parked vehicles during the manhunt and arrest. The clip has drawn widespread attention online as details of the deaths became public.

Authorities have not released a full timeline of events leading up to the shooting. Social media posts about the case have described a custody dispute between Duncan and Wood; official statements so far have characterized the killings as domestic violence without elaborating on court filings.

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.