On July 11, 2021 at 6:20 pm the Macon County Sheriff’s Office responded to an address in rural Argenta, Illinois for the report of man having been shot. Upon arrival deputies located a 51 year old male deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.
The initial investigation revealed that the victim and Phillip Gehrken, 52 year old male from Forsyth, had recently had financial disputes and when the victim confronted Gehrken at the Argenta address he was shot multiple times by Gehrken.
Gehrken was placed into custody by detectives on the scene and booked into the Macon County Jail on charges of Homicide, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon by a Felon. He is awaiting his initial appearance in court this morning.
Search warrants were obtained by the investigators authorizing a thorough search of the residence in Argenta and a residence in Forsyth.
This situation remains under investigation by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Division.
The name of the deceased is being withheld pending family notification by the Macon County Coroner
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