Two teenagers, ages 15 and 16, are in custody after a shooting spree that authorities say targeted a single family across three locations in East St. Louis, Illinois, over the weekend.
Five relatives were killed, and two others were seriously wounded in what the Illinois State Police called a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence.
The victims have been identified as Cherie L. May, 49; Devin D. May, 24; Patricia A. May, 74; Quentin L. Thompson, 21; and Shania W. Thompson, 25.
Investigators have not disclosed how the victims were related to one another, when the killings took place, or what may have triggered the violence.
What Happened at the Three Scenes
According to police, three people were shot and killed at the Samuel Gompers Homes on North 6th Street. A fourth victim was killed near 39th Street and Summit Street, and a fifth person died at Jones Park, where two additional victims were injured.
Officers were initially called out after a report concerning the discovery of human remains, and the investigation expanded from there into a multi-site homicide case.
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said investigators believe at least one of the two teenage suspects is related to the family that was targeted, though he did not elaborate on the exact connection. The suspects had not been formally charged as of Sunday evening, and officials have not released a motive.
Kelly Says City Will Not Be Defined by Violence
Speaking at a news conference, Kelly acknowledged the severity of the crime while trying to reassure residents that there is no continuing danger to the public.
He called the killings evil and said the scale of the loss was deeply painful for the community, but insisted that the city would not be defined by the tragedy.
East St. Louis, a city of roughly 18,000 residents in southwestern Illinois, has dealt with persistent violent crime for years. Kelly noted that law enforcement has been working to bring down crime rates in the area, even as incidents like this weekend’s shooting underscore the challenges that remain.
No further details have been released about what led to the shooting, and the investigation remains active. Authorities have not said whether additional arrests are expected or whether the two suspects currently in custody acted alone. Officials asked anyone with information related to the case to contact the Illinois State Police as the inquiry continues.
