CARBONDALE – A Carbondale man was sentenced Thursday in Jackson County Court to 40 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for first-degree murder in the shooting death of 37-year-old John Pruitt of Carbondale last October.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Joseph A. Cervantez says 30-year-old David Edwards Jr. will have to serve the entire sentence.

Cervantez says on Oct. 3, 2022, Carbondale police officers responded to the 700 block of South Lewis Lane regarding shots fired. During the investigation, officers located Pruitt, who was the victim.

Pruitt was taken to an area hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

The Carbondale Police Department led a thorough investigation which led to the arrest of Edwards Jr. Pruitt and Edwards Jr. were known acquaintances and had an ongoing dispute.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the SIU Police Department, the Jackson County Coroner’s Office, the Jackson County Ambulance Service and the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office all assisted in the investigation.