EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (WBBM Newsradio) – Five members of one family were killed and two others were seriously wounded in a targeted shooting across multiple locations in East St. Louis on Sunday, Illinois State Police said.
A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were taken into custody after officers used a Precision Immobilization Technique maneuver to stop the vehicle one of the suspects was driving, according to state police.
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said the shootings involved several complex crime scenes connected by the same family.
“At least seven members of the targeted family were shot at multiple locations in the East St. Louis area,” Kelly said. “And as of right now, five victims have been confirmed deceased.”
The victims were identified as 49-year-old Cherie L. May, 24-year-old Devin D. May, 74-year-old Patricia A. May, 21-year-old Quentin L. Thompson and 25-year-old Shania W. Thompson. All were from East St. Louis.
Two other family members were taken to a hospital in St. Louis with serious injuries.
Kelly said investigators were examining three locations: Jones Park, the Gompers public housing complex and a home near 39th Street and Summit Avenue.
“This is a large city and these are multiple complex crime scenes,” Kelly said. “But because of one common connection, and the way this has played, it may be appropriate to characterize it as a mass shooting.”
Authorities have not released a possible motive or disclosed how many weapons were recovered. State police also have not said how the teenagers obtained the firearms.
Kelly said the severity of the allegations could affect how the juvenile suspects are prosecuted.
“There are certain circumstances in which the nature of the offenses that are involved, the laws related to adults and how adults are prosecuted, those could apply to a juvenile under certain circumstances,” Kelly said.
No charges had been announced. State police said they were working with the St. Clair County state’s attorney’s office.
“These alleged acts of horrific violence, taking this number of lives here in this community, it’s terrible,” Kelly said. “It’s evil, but it will not keep this city down.”
Police said the shooting was targeted and there was no known continuing threat to the public.
