Illinois State Police arrested two teenagers, ages 15 and 16, on July 12 after a shooting spree in East St. Louis left five family members dead and two others wounded. Director Brendan Kelly said the case involved three locations and that at least one suspect is related to the victims.
Kelly said, "At least seven members of the targeted family were shot at multiple locations in the East St. Louis area, and as of right now, five victims have been confirmed deceased." He said the shootings unfolded within a few miles of one another, and the five dead were identified as Cherie L. May, Devin D. May, Patricia A. May, Quentin L. Thompson, and Shania W. Thompson.
Frank Holten State Park arrests
The suspects were taken into custody at Frank Holten State Park near East St. Louis after officers used a precision immobilization technique, or PIT, maneuver on a vehicle driven by one of them. Illinois State Police said the two wounded victims were shot at Jones Park and were treated at a hospital in St. Louis.
One victim died near North 39th Street and Summit Avenue, three died at the Samuel Gompers Homes, and one died at Jones Park. Kelly also said, "These alleged acts of horrific violence, taking this number of lives, here in this community it’s terrible. It’s evil, but it will not keep this city down."
St. Clair County charges
State police said they were working with the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office and would seek charges against the suspects. That step moves the case from arrest to charging, which is the point when prosecutors decide what criminal counts to file and what facts to put before a court.
State police said at least one suspect is related to the victims, but they did not identify that relationship. East St. Louis is in St. Clair County, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis, and the shootings were said to have targeted members of the same family.
The case now turns on the charging decision. The arrests are already made, the victims have been named, and prosecutors must decide how the family connection and the three-scene shooting spree are reflected in the charges they file.
