December 17, 2025, Peoria, IL - Today, Amorta I. Nelson, 27, was sentenced to 73 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the murder of 33-year-old Antonio Hardy in September 2023. Hardy was shot multiple times in the back while he was getting gas in the Central Bluff. In November 2025, Nelson was found guilty by a Peoria County jury of First-Degree Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon.

At sentencing today, Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Alferink argued this was not simply a murder but an execution, carried out for a reason that may never be known, making it even more senseless. She emphasized the lasting impact of the defendant's actions on Hardy's family and loved ones. Hardy's mother described the loss as a loss of her legacy and future, including the chance to experience grandchildren and share in life milestones.

In delivering the sentence, Chief Judge Katherine Gorman noted that the defendant had the opportunity to improve himself, but instead he chose to act out in a way that cannot be tolerated. She sentenced the defendant to 63 years for murder and 10 years for weapons offense to be served one after the other for a total of 73 years.

On September 18, 2023, officers responded to a nine-round ShotSpotter alert with a victim at Coopers gas station at the intersection of Sheridan and McClure in Peoria. Upon arrival, they found Hardy lying on his back, bleeding heavily. Officers began life-saving measures, but Hardy would later be pronounced dead at the hospital.

The murder was captured on surveillance video. The footage shows Hardy pumping gas into his vehicle when the defendant gets out of the passenger side of another vehicle and approaches Hardy from behind. The defendant shoots Hardy three times in the back, causing him to fall to the ground. The defendant then walks up and fires one additional shot to Hardy's head, killing him.

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