Sparta death still under investigation

<span>The investigation into the May 31 death of 24-year-old Joshua E. Young is still continuing, according to Sparta Police Chief Sean Lukes.</span>

<span>Young was found dead at 140 W. Broadway St. in Sparta with a single gunshot wound to the head, but investigating agencies are still trying to determine if it was homicide or suicide.</span>

<span>"There's not a whole lot we can say on him, we don't want to say anything to jeopardize the investigation," said Randolph County Coroner Randy Dudenbostel on Monday. "We're still kinda on hold."</span>

<span>Dudenbostel said it could be between six and eight weeks to get toxicology results back and there is a possibility the case could be taken to inquest.</span>

<span>According to state statute, a coroner's inquest is an inquiry into the manner and cause of an individual's death, conducted with a court reporter and six jurors present. It has no criminal or civil trial significance, but is open to the public.</span>

<span>"The coroner has the right to present everything to a jury and they decide the manner and cause of death," Dudenbostel said. "We won't take that to inquest until we have everything back."</span>

<span>Lukes previously stated officers received a 911 call, from a roommate of Young's, to report the shooting at 2:08 a.m.</span>

<span>Officers with the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, Sparta Police Department and Illinois State Police responded to the scene. Lukes said ISP collected evidence and processed the scene before turning the investigation over to the Sparta Police Department.</span>

<span>Dudenbostel said Young was pronounced dead at 2:17 a.m. An autopsy was conducted on June 1.</span>

<span>"We're not going to release anything at this time," Dudenbostel said to the Herald Tribune on June 2. "We don't want to speculate anything. We want to make sure we get everything right before we release it."</span>