Hearing rescheduled for Van Arsdale III

Richard Van Arsdale III

By Dave Gong

A motion hearing for one of the former NIU students charged with the April 5 shooting of NIU linebacker Devon Butler at 1009 Aspen Court was rescheduled at a hearing Friday morning.

According to court documents, attorneys for Richard Van Arsdale III, 21, filed motions on Aug. 26 attempting to throw out Van Arsdale’s arrest due to a lack of evidence. Van Arsdale’s attorneys also filed a motion to suppress the video-taped statement Van Arsdale gave to the police.

The hearing was rescheduled because DeKalb Police officers would not be able to attend due to training on the same day. The hearing was rescheduled for Nov. 9, at which time Associate Judge William Brady will make a ruling on the motions filed by Van Arsdale’s attorneys.

Van Arsdale, along with co-defendant, former NIU student Mark Orozco, 24, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, armed violence and unlawful delivery of cannabis.

Police have said Van Arsdale is believed to be the driver of the getaway vehicle involved in the shooting, while Orozco is believed to be the shooter. Orozco’s next scheduled court date is Oct. 5.