Camren Marcelis Darden
Camren Darden was 17, a student at Springfield High School, and his mother, Camille Darden, described him as a quiet person. He was held at the Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Center in Springfield on September 30, 2023, when, according to police, he fired a handgun inside the building and took a hostage before a Springfield police officer shot him. He died at a hospital about two hours later, and the Sangamon County coroner listed gunshot wounds as the cause. Camille Darden said police should have made sure he had no access to firearms inside the center. The Sangamon County State's Attorney cleared the officers of wrongdoing, and the Illinois State Police investigation into how he obtained the gun was still open at the time of the reporting.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff. The coroner attributed his death to gunshot wounds from a Springfield police officer's fire, and the state's attorney found no wrongdoing by the officers.
Reported by: Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon (medical examiner or coroner); Springfield police.