Illinois drops investigation into Terrence Shannon Jr.

The College of Illinois has closed an inner investigation right into a sexual assault allegation in opposition to basketball participant Terrence Shannon Jr.

In a letter to Shannon dated April 5, Robert Wilczynski, the director of the Workplace for Pupil Battle Decision at Illinois, wrote that the college had inadequate proof to seek out Shannon in violation of the scholar code. Wilczynski wrote that the college’s investigator didn’t have “entry to the complainant, the complainant’s witness” and that “the entire Lawrence Police Division file was not out there to the investigator,” in keeping with the letter.

Shannon was arrested Dec. 28 in Lawrence, Kansas, and charged with rape, sexual activity with out consent and use of power. In accordance with a police affidavit, a girl advised police that Shannon digitally penetrated her at a bar in Lawrence with out her consent on Sept. 9.

Shannon’s legal professional, Robert Lang, mentioned Shannon “absolutely cooperated with the college’s investigation, and the college did as thorough of an investigation as attainable that spanned a number of weeks.” Attorneys representing Shannon in his felony case didn’t reply to messages looking for remark.

A spokeswoman for the college declined to remark, citing federal privateness regulation that “prevents the College from sharing details about any particular case involving scholar self-discipline.” The college’s letter famous that “the matter could also be reopened if new substantial proof is dropped at the eye of [the Office for Student Conflict Resolution] from any supply.”

Shannon additionally dropped a lawsuit in opposition to Illinois and its president, Timothy Killeen. Shannon had filed for an injunction in January, claiming the college made a “rush to judgment” and used an “unfair” course of when it determined to indefinitely droop him from all staff actions after his arrest in December. Shannon in the end was allowed to rejoin the staff when a federal choose granted his request for a brief restraining order in January.

The college’s April 5 letter was filed as an exhibit to Shannon’s discover to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit. Shannon dismissed the case with out prejudice, that means he can refile it if vital, Lang mentioned.

Shannon, a senior guard, averaged 25.4 factors within the Illini males’s basketball run to the Elite Eight on the NCAA event, the place they ultimately fell to UConn. He’s anticipated to declare for the 2024 NBA draft in June and posted a be aware to his social media Wednesday thanking the followers and workers at Illinois and Texas Tech, the place he beforehand performed.

“I wish to thank Illini nation for his or her unwavering assist all through my two years right here. The workers and the followers have actually made this expertise memorable!” Shannon wrote.

The felony case in opposition to Shannon in Kansas is ongoing, and a preliminary listening to is scheduled for Might 10 on the Douglas County District Court docket. A spokesperson for the Lawrence police mentioned in an e mail that “it would not be acceptable for us to take a position or touch upon any [University of Illinois] processes” as a result of pending felony case.