Judge orders 16-year-old held after prosecutors lay out details in five deaths
St. Clair County Associate Judge Sara Rice ordered a 16-year-old accused of killing five members of his girlfriend’s family to remain in custody Wednesday after prosecutors described what the judge called a “horrifying sequence of events.” The hearing in Belleville followed charges filed by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney that allege the slayings were targeted.
Authorities say most of the shootings occurred over the weekend at three separate locations in East St. Louis, with one of the incidents alleged to have taken place between July 5 and July 7. The accused, identified in charging documents as Ja’ymier Davis, faces 12 counts related to the deaths and injuries; prosecutors told the court the attacks left five dead and two others seriously wounded.
Victims and evidence described in court
Prosecutors named the five people who were killed as members of the same family and gave their ages in court:
| Victim | Age |
|---|---|
| Patricia May (grandmother) | 74 |
| Cherie May (aunt) | 49 |
| Devin May (cousin) | 24 |
| Shania Thompson (sister) | 25 |
| Quentin Thompson (brother) | 21 |
Prosecutors said shell casings collected at the scenes were traced to a firearm that a family member reported stolen on July 7. According to charging documents read at the hearing, Davis told investigators the stolen gun had been given to him by the 15-year-old girlfriend.
Messages and the role of a 15-year-old
The State’s Attorney presented screenshots of social media exchanges that prosecutors say show planning and intent. Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Lewis read portions of those alleged messages into the record, including lines the state attributed to the 15-year-old girl:
“We abt to kill my family.”
“I’ll do it for me but will you do it for we.”
Prosecutors say Davis replied “yes” in the chat. The 15-year-old, who is not named in charging documents, allegedly told investigators where to find at least one of the bodies. She is currently in juvenile proceedings while prosecutors seek to transfer her case — which includes murder charges — to adult court.
Defense response and next steps
Public Defender Patrick Sullivan declined to present evidence or witness testimony during Wednesday’s hearing but told the judge the defense “vehemently disagreed with the facts” set out by the state. Sullivan suggested Davis was himself a target, an assertion prosecutors disputed. Assistant State’s Attorney Lewis argued there was "no combination of conditions to mitigate" the threat that Davis would pose if released.
- Judge Rice ordered Davis held pending further court action.
- Prosecutors filed 12 counts against the 16-year-old; the 15-year-old faces charges in juvenile court with prosecutors seeking transfer.
- Evidence presented included social-media messages and shell casings traced to a gun reported stolen July 7.
The family killings have added to concerns about violent crime on both sides of the Mississippi River. For residents in St. Louis and neighboring communities such as East St. Louis, the case underscores how juvenile defendants, social media and firearms can intersect in ways that bring tragic outcomes to closely knit households.
Court officials did not announce a timetable for the next hearing. Prosecutors continue to investigate the shootings and the circumstances that led to multiple victims across several locations.
