Teenagers Face Charges Following Fatal Shooting Spree in Illinois
2 teens charged after 5 family – Two adolescents are now facing serious criminal charges after a coordinated series of shootings across multiple locations in an Illinois city resulted in five deaths and two additional injuries, according to law enforcement officials.
The arrests occurred on July 12 when troopers intercepted a vehicle being driven by one of the suspects. Officers executed a precision immobilization technique, commonly known as a PIT maneuver, to bring the car to a controlled stop at Frank Holten State Park. This recreational area sits near the city of East St. Louis in Illinois.
Charges Approved for Both Teenagers
St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric formally approved charges on July 14 against 16-year-old Ja’ymier Davis, who will face prosecution as an adult, according to an official news release from Illinois State Police. The teenager confronts five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of aggravated battery. Additional charges include aggravated vehicular hijacking, dismembering a human body, and unlawful use of a stolen firearm.
A 15-year-old girl, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed by authorities, faces a juvenile delinquency petition containing first-degree murder charges. The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office intends to request a transfer of her case to adult criminal court, state police reported.
Victims Identified as Family Members
State police characterized the incident as a “targeted mass shooting” that unfolded in East St. Louis, a city positioned across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis. The 15-year-old girl’s father, Marcus May, shared with local news outlets that he lost his mother, sister, and nephew during the shootings.
May identified Davis as his daughter’s boyfriend and said his daughter “decided what she wanted to do,” according to television station First Alert 4. “I can’t show her no sympathy. I hate to be like that, especially in this time. But it is what it is,” he told the television station.
The investigation commenced on July 12 when the East St. Louis Police Department requested assistance from the Illinois State Police after human remains were discovered at the Samuel Gompers Homes. The victim was subsequently identified as Cherie L. May, 49, according to state police.
Further examination identified four additional shooting victims: Devin D. May, 24; Patricia A. May, 74; Quentin L. Thompson, 21; and Shania W. Thompson, 25, state police stated. Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly explained at a brief news conference on July 12 that the victims were discovered at three locations within a few miles of each other.
Crime Scene Details
According to Kelly, one victim was killed near North 39th Street and Summit Avenue, three were killed at the Samuel Gompers Homes, and another died at Jones Park. The two other victims were wounded at Jones Park and survived, Kelly said. They sustained serious injuries and were transported to a hospital in St. Louis.
On July 14, state police confirmed that all the victims in the shootings were related to the 15-year-old suspect.
USA TODAY reached out to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office for comment.
Editor’s note: This article discusses domestic violence. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence or an abusive relationship, call the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) or visit www.thehotline.org. Callers can remain anonymous.
