East St. Louis — A weekend of violence in East St. Louis left five family members dead and two others gravely wounded, authorities said Sunday as Illinois State Police investigators worked to piece together events at three crime scenes.
Multiple scenes, single investigation
Illinois State Police officials said detectives and troopers responded after East St. Louis police received reports that led them to a public housing complex, a neighborhood park and a private residence. Investigators described the situation as involving multiple locations but connected by family relationships among victims and suspects.
"The picture is coming together. We have a lot of ISP special agents, troopers, officers from our local partners that are actively involved investigating those particular questions and I think that will become apparent over time,"
— Brenden Kelly, director of the Illinois State Police.
Victims and suspects identified by ISP
State police named the five people killed as Cherie May, 49; Devin May, 24; Patricia May, 74; Quentin Thompson, 21; and Shania Thompson, 25. Authorities also said two juveniles — a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old — are in custody in connection with the shootings. Officials indicated the two suspects are related to each other and that one is related to one of the deceased.
| Victim | Age |
|---|---|
| Cherie May | 49 |
| Devin May | 24 |
| Patricia May | 74 |
| Quentin Thompson | 21 |
| Shania Thompson | 25 |
At this stage, investigators would not specify the number of weapons recovered, how firearms were obtained or a motive for the attack. No charges had been filed publicly by the time police released their initial statements.
Investigation and community impact
State police said the probe is active and involves local law enforcement partners. Officials emphasized the complexity of working multiple scenes and tracing the timeline of events. They also assured the public that, based on available information, there is no broader threat to residents.
Mass shootings that involve family networks introduce additional investigative challenges for detectives, who must untangle relationships, movements and the circumstances that tied scenes together. For East St. Louis — a city already grappling with public safety concerns — the deaths deepen a community trauma.
- Five people confirmed dead, all identified by ISP.
- Two wounded remain hospitalized and fighting for their lives, according to state police.
- Two juvenile suspects — ages 15 and 16 — are in custody; their precise relationship and role remain under investigation.
State police said more details would be released as the inquiry advances. Members of the public with information relevant to the case are asked to cooperate with investigators through established East St. Louis or Illinois State Police tip lines, officials said. Local authorities have not announced any dates for court proceedings or formal charges at this time.
I will continue to monitor official updates from the Illinois State Police and East St. Louis authorities and will report new information as it becomes available.
