Guilty Plea in Second New Year's Day Murder

April 2, 2025, Peoria, IL - During a plea hearing today, Robert A. White, 30, pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm for the New Year's Day shooting that resulted in the death of Bridgett Ross, 35, and injuries to a male victim. White had previously been convicted of the murder of Daniella Jackson, which occurred just two hours before the murder of Ross. He was sentenced to 69 years in prison for that crime in July 2023.

The plea agreement today was in large part deference to the victim's family, who wished to avoid another trial. The family also requested that White spend the rest of his life in prison. This plea will ensure that occurs as all of the sentences will be served after each other for a total sentence of 99 years in prison. He was sentenced to 20 years on the Second Degree Murder charge, the maximum, and 10 years on the Aggravated Battery with a Firearm charge.

After midnight on New Year's Day 2022, White was celebrating the holiday at the home of Daniella Jackson and Levi Conway. That celebration ended when White shot Conway three times and Jackson four times. Conway survived his injuries, but Jackson died on their apartment floor. White then fled. While officers were responding to the shooting, they received a report about a second shooting in the 500 block of W. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. At that time, they were unaware that the two shootings were connected.

Upon arriving at the second shooting, officers found Ross and another male victim, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Immediate life-saving measures were administered to Ross, but she was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The male victim had a non-life-threatening injury. During the investigation, officers discovered that after the first shooting, White had fled to Ross's apartment and fired a shot from the hallway through her door. That bullet struck the male victim in the neck before hitting and killing Ross.

###