In just a few hours from now, the #9 Illinois Fighting Illini will visit the #1 Purdue Boilermakers in what should be an epic Big Ten basketball battle. But with all things Illini basketball, the Terrence Shannon Jr. rape case is always near top of mind. TSJ, the Illini leading scorer this season and strong All-America candidate remains suspended indefinitely, having been charged with the crime of rape in the state of Kansas.
Acquired via a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request, the Champaign Showers podcast network posted a copy of the police report on Twitter.
here is the redacted incident report from Terrence Shannon Jr’s case, acquired via the Kansas Open Records Act last week / this morning.
This confirms that the incident happened in a bar and also alleges the use of a “personal weapon.” pic.twitter.com/6PufhHYl5P
— Champaign Showers (@217Showers) January 2, 2024
As you can see, the incident report is posted above, and it confirms a lot of what we already knew. To be honest, we didn’t learn much from the report going public, other than this incident occurred in a bar, and in the middle of the day during the Illini at Kansas football weekend. Also, an unspecified “personal weapon” was utilized.
The publication of this report stands in direct contrast to all the misinformation and disinformation that surfaced this week in regard to this case. We’re not linking to that person on Twitter.
We certainly won’t be taking them up on their standing offer, to anybody and everybody out there, to direct message them for screen shots.
Honestly, we have probably given that too much oxygen already. We need to navigate away from rumors and sensationalized, unsubstantiated claims on social media. Here’s what we do know about the Shannon case, and how we should go about consuming the media coverage of it.
The Only Thing You Should Be Rooting for is Fact-Finding, and With it, Justice
Super cliche, yes, I know, but it’s a very shopworn cliche for a reason. “Let the facts/case play out/run its course” is a very trite phrase, but that’s the only thing that matters right now. This is not about basketball, or what’s good for the Illini basketball team. (Even though, yes, the only reason we’re all so engrossed in reading/talking/writing about this case is because it revolves around an elite college basketball player).
If Terrence Shannon Jr. is guilty of which he stands accused, then he deserves the sentence that might be handed down to him in a court of law. If he is innocent, then he deserves to fully go back about his life, and to do exonerated.
If you think otherwise, or believe the interests of a basketball season rise above the matter of legal justice, well, you can stop reading now. Because the rest of this article is simply not for you.
The University is Not Publicly Distancing Themselves From Terrence Shannon Jr. Right Now
Ok, so you’re still here?
Its interesting that Illini Athletic Director Josh Whitman referred to Shannon as “TJ” more than once during his press conference. He didn’t call him “Mr. Shannon” or “the alleged perpetrator” or anything like that. And Whitman is always very corporate about everything he says in public.
He is an attorney himself, so he enters every single media opportunity well aware of any litigious concerns that could arise.
That is especially true for a situation like this, which revolves around a very sensitive situation and serious legal matter. However, the rest of the program/DIA etc. seems to be following Whitman’s lead here. No one within the Illini basketball program has shown any indication that they believe Shannon is guilty.
Yes, he is suspended indefinitely, but that is standard university protocol.
Your Preconceived Notions of Terrence Shannon Don’t Matter Too Much
There is some weight that can be given to how the teammates, coaches, athletic department etc. have reacted to the Shannon news. No weight should be given to “he seems like a good kid” or “he has no priors” or anything like that. “He seems like a good kid” and “He’s never been in trouble before” isn’t relevant here.
The court of law is what matters, not the court of public opinion.
Being Formally Charged is Very Different From Being Accused
It is amazing how many Illini sports fans don’t seem to understand this crucial difference. Being officially charged means that the state believes there is enough evidence present that a conviction is possible. It obviously much more serious than “allegations” or “accusations”, but at the same time, it’s not a statement of guilt or innocence.
Former Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane was accused of rape, but the case never proceeded to trial. Yet Kane was very easy to “convict” in the court of public opinion because he a previous criminal record. Not to mention he had a well-documented history of public drunkenness and misogyny. Kane literally took public pride in his binge drinking and his wearing t-shirts with sexist slogans printed on them.
But none of that makes him a rapist. The only thing that makes him, or Terrence Shannon Jr. or anyone else for that matter a rapist, is an actual conviction in a court of law.
Not Guilty, or Charges Dropped Does Not Mean Innocent/Exonerated
I am not a lawyer, or a legal scholar, but I was Vice President of the Pre-Law Club during my sophomore year at the University of Illinois. In short, I’m no legal expert, but I am really sick of all the keyboard tough guys who pretend to be one on social media.
All my years covering sports has taught me this very obvious truth- a lot of super fans, for every team out there, believe “their guy” is “innocent” as long as he hasn’t been convicted. They don’t understand the nuances of the legal process. They don’t comprehend that charges get dropped, plea bargains are done, the appeal process, etc. etc. They only think that anything short of conviction equals total exoneration.
See Mason Greenwood and the subsection of the Manchester United supporter base that will stay loyal to him, no matter what.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now, while writing for the International Baseball Writers Association of America. You can follow the website on Twitter.