Michael Dixon, 60, was killed Dec. 29 in East Peoria

A bouquet of flowers was placed in the yard of an East Peoria home where a man was gunned down Dec 29.  Kenneth R. Dixon, 60, was pronounced dead at his home at 609 Springfield Road Dec. 29.

The gunman, Kenneth Ohler, 47, was transported to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

East Peoria Police Detective Sgt. Brian Despines said Ohler sought to confront someone other than Dixon when he arrived at the home around 6:30 p.m. That individual was not there, but another resident of the home was.

Both Dixon and Ohler were inside the home when police were summoned to the residence. Reports say Dixon’s wife made the call from a neighbor’s house.

Ohler’s condition was unavailable through the hospital, but he was scheduled to undergo surgery Dec. 31.

The person the shooter was looking to confront had been a co-worker, and it is believed that Ohler and Dixon did not know each other, police said. The shooting was not a domestic incident, according to police.

Police are unable to communicate with Ohler at this time, but he remains in police custody.

Kenneth Ohler. 47
(Photo courtesy of Santa Fe County New Mexico)

No charges have been filed and it is expected he will remain at the hospital for quite a while before being released fully into police custody.

The shooting shuttered the city’s annual Festival of Lights display, which is adjacent to the crime scene. The East Peoria Police Department, Illinois State Police and the Tazewell County Coroner’s Office worked together on the investigation.

Meanwhile, as news of Dixon’s death spread, friends and family begin to post condolences on Michael Dixon’s Facebook page.

“I always remember you with a smile on your face, making everyone’s mood better. You will be missed,” wrote Teri Tucker Finn.

Dixon was a 1974 graduate of East Peoria Community

East Peoria police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting that occurred in the 800 block of Springfield Road, Thursday, Dec. 29. (Photo by Holly Eitenmiller / for Chronicle Media)

High School and was employed by Caterpillar, Inc.

According to Despines, Ohler previously lived in New Mexico and moved to Peoria about six months ago.

— Man killed in East Peoria shooting, suspect in custody —