Blago Freed, AJ's Mom Sentenced, COVID Takes Hold: 2020 In IL

ILLINOIS — It's been a year for the history books, with so many unprecedented events — from a global pandemic, civil unrest across the country and a hotly contested presidential election to the legalization of recreational marijuana and a fast-tracked vaccine for the virus.

As 2020 comes to a close, we're looking back at some of the stories that shaped Illinois this year.

First Illinois Coronavirus Cases

Illinois, along with the rest of the world, first started hearing whispers about a new virus around New Year's 2020.

In January, health officials announced a Chicago woman in her 60s became the second confirmed case of the virus in the United States after she returned from a trip to China. Soon, her husband also tested positive, and they became the first confirmed case of human-to-human transmission in the U.S.

The diagnoses came shortly after the World Health Organization declared the illness a "public health emergency." Illinois health officials said the woman and her husband recovered from the illness.

Retired State Trooper Killed, Other Troopers Wounded In Mass Shooting

As January drew to a close, the Chicago area was shocked by a shooting at a suburban cigar lounge that claimed the life of retired Illinois State Trooper Greg Rieves Sr., 51.

A second retired trooper and an off-duty trooper were wounded in the shooting. Police said the shooter, a 51-year-old woman, then turned the gun on herself. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Blagojevich Freed Thanks To Commutation From Trump

In February, disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich won his freedom, more than halfway through a 14-year sentence on corruption charges. He had President Donald Trump to thank for springing him after Trump commuted his sentence.

The day after his release from a federal prison in Colorado, the ex-governor held court outside his Chicago home. Elected as a Democrat, Blagojevich proclaimed himself a "Trumpocrat" and pledged to fight what he called a broken, racist justice system.

First Coronavirus Death, Shutdown Orders

On March 13, Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all schools shut down, marking a major milestone in the coronavirus pandemic.

Two days later, as he decried long lines outside bars for pre-St. Patrick's Day revelers, he ordered all bars and restaurants shut down at least through March 30. Little did Illinois know that the varying degrees of shutdowns would last much longer than that, with restaurants and bars finding new ways to serve customers including curbside pickup, outdoor dining and more.

On March 17, Pritzker announced Illinois' first coronavirus death — Patricia Frieson, 61, of Chicago. Sadly, the woman's family would face more tragedy days later when her sister died, 63-year-old Wanda Bailey, of Crete.

On March 20, as the death toll hit five, Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order, effective the next day.

By the end of 2020, more than 16,000 Illinoisans had died of the coronavirus, and more than 955,000 cases had been confirmed. Worldwide, more than 1.8 million people had died of coronavirus by the end of December, including more than 340,000 in the United States.

George Floyd Protests

George Floyd's death under the knee of a Minneapolis Police Officer galvanized many around the world, and Illinois was no different. Starting in late May, protests and demonstrations began — most peaceful, but some leading to looting in the suburbs and Chicago, and even an explosion as a police vehicle was set aflame in Aurora.

Some police joined with protesters, even taking a knee with them.

Death Of Eric Lurry

As the nation reeled from the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, and Black Lives Matter protests took place across the world, a story came to light here in Illinois.

In July, a video surfaced of the in-custody death of a 37-year-old Black man from Joliet. Eric Lurry died in January after he was arrested on a charge of obstructing justice as part of an undercover drug operation.

He died in the back seat of a Joliet squad car.

Joliet police initially declined to release footage of Lurry's death, but a whistleblower — who has since been charged with misconduct — reportedly shared the video with the media.

The in-custody video shows a Joliet police officer pinching Lurry's nose shut for nearly two entire minutes while a second officer used a baton to recover something from Lurry's mouth. The officers were cleared of committing any crimes by the Will County State's Attorney, but a federal lawsuit has been filed in his death, and his widow, Nicole Lurry, is running for Joliet city council.

AJ's Mother Sentenced

In July, a murder case that shocked the community came closer to its conclusion as JoAnn Cunningham was sentenced after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in her 5-year-old son's April 2019 death.

A sobbing Cunningham said she deserved help along with punishment and expressed her love for little AJ. "I'd give my life to get AJ back," she said.

Abandoned Dog With Cancer Gets Bucket List, Gives Back

A sad story took an uplifting turn after a suburban couple decided to foster Theo, a cancer-stricken 12-year-old golden retriever who was abandoned in a Walmart parking lot.

Theo's life suddenly changed for the better in August when the family took him in and began fulfilling his bucket list, from being an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile hot dogger to having a beer and an ice cream created in his honor, meeting "Elvis" and having his portrait painted.

He has also helped raise thousands of dollars for area non-profits, giving back while living his best life.

Coronavirus Survivor's Message

In September — months after the teenager's April diagnosis — a 19-year-old's mother shared the lessons the family has learned during his battle with coronavirus.

Jibriel Tawalbeh — a healthy, athletic teen — spent months in the hospital, including 47 days on a ventilator, and is undergoing physical therapy to battle the lasting effects of the disease.

His message?

"COVID-19 is not a joke and is not a hoax," Tawalbeh said. "Unfortunately I had to face it first hand and I can safely say that it is a very deadly virus that is very real. So please, take the safety precautions. Wear a mask when you go out, if you are not afraid of the safety of yourself at least do it for the safety of others. Be safe, take precautions. If you don't need to go outside then stay inside and find productive things to do around your home."

Weed Sales Shatter Records

Recreational marijuana became legal for adults on Jan. 1, and since then, the revenue has poured in.

Month after month, sales shattered records, hitting the half-billion mark in October. It wasn't until December that cannabis sales flattened for the first time all year.

Vaccine Arrives In Illinois

In mid-December, the first shipments of the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines arrived in Illinois, with health care workers and first responders among the first to receive the vaccine.

Both vaccines require two doses, spaced several weeks apart.

As of the last week of December, more than 108,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and more than 161,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine had arrived in Illinois. More than 126,000 people statewide had received their first vaccination shots.

Many hope the arrival of the vaccine marks the beginning of the end of the pandemic.

Bowling Alley Shooting

In December, horror took hold at an Illinois bowling alley as a gunman opened fire, killing three men and wounding three others, including two teenagers.

A Green Beret from Florida who had traveled to Illinois to visit family while on leave is charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.