County of Peoria

KEVIN W. LYONS
STATE'S ATIORNEY

PEORIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE GENERAL OFFICES

PEORIA, ILLINOIS 61602 (309) 672-6900

June 16, 2009

For Public Release: Stabbing Death of Derrick Wade

I have instructed today that Kendrick D. Nellum be released from custody. He will face no
criminal charges for the stabbing death of Derrick Wade on June 15, 2009.

Peoria police were called to the Lexington Hills apartment complex at around 2:00am on a
report of a man beating a woman. That man was Derrick Wade. The fight maneuvered through a
public hall and stairwell and into the woman's apartment. Once there, Kendrick Nellum, a relative
of the female, attempted to separate Wade and the woman but Wade continued to assault her and
Nellum, using a knife from the kitchen of the woman's apartment, stabbed Wade once in the back.
Apparently, once was enough, and Wade bled to death,

In a refreshing change for police, when they arrived, they found that witnesses, and
everyone involved, had remained at the scene and that everyone was willing to give an honest
account of what had just happened . Mr. Nellum admitted that he had stabbed Wade and why. He
showed them the knife. Witnesses, when separately interviewed, told what they saw and heard and
their accounts were consistent with Kendrick Nellum's.

Sorting out witnesses and their descriptions of events takes time. Peoria police officers and
detectives moved timely in gathering necessary facts so that my office could make an informed
assessment of the case and determine what, if any, criminal charges should be lodged. They were
assisted by witnesses who remained and were willing to help the criminal justice system help them .
This cooperation from citizens does not always occur, but in this case it did and both police and
prosecutors appreciate it.

I, therefore, rule that the death of Derrick Wade was caused by a justifiable stabbing
inflicted by Kendrick D. Nellum in the defense of another during a criminal battery that was being
committed by Derrick Wade. Kendrick D. Nellum will face no cri 'nal charges for this act and he is
ordered released from custody.

VINW. LYONS
State's Attorney