EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — Two teenagers were charged Tuesday in a series of shootings that killed five members of a family and wounded two others in East St. Louis, authorities said.
Arrests and charges
Illinois State Police and local authorities arrested the suspects after stopping a vehicle Sunday in a state park, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said. A 16-year-old boy will be prosecuted as an adult and faces multiple charges, including five counts of murder. A 15-year-old girl was also charged; her case will start in juvenile court and could be transferred to St. Clair County criminal court, the county prosecutor’s office said.
Sequence and scope of the violence
Police described the incident as a “targeted mass shooting.” The attacks occurred at three different locations, with most of the shootings happening over the weekend and at least one killing occurring days earlier, according to court filings. Two people were wounded in addition to the five who were fatally shot.
- Number killed: 5 family members
- Number wounded: 2
- Suspects: 16-year-old boy (to be prosecuted as adult); 15-year-old girl (juvenile proceedings)
Victims and community impact
Court documents do not disclose a motive. Family members speaking to local media suggested an internal dispute; Marcus May, whose family suffered multiple losses, told reporters the 15-year-old had been upset with relatives and allegedly plotted the attacks with her boyfriend.
“I can’t show her no sympathy,” May said. “She chose to do this.”
May said he lost a nephew, two stepchildren, his mother and a sister in the attacks. The victims’ ages, as reported by local media, were 74, 49, 25, 24 and 21.
| Victim relation | Reported age |
|---|---|
| Mother | 74 |
| Other family members (multiple relations) | 49, 25, 24, 21 |
Legal proceedings and next steps
The 16-year-old appeared in court on 12 charges and was ordered to remain in custody. The public defender’s office was appointed to represent him. The 15-year-old’s case will initially proceed within the juvenile system; prosecutors will determine whether to seek a transfer to adult court.
The Associated Press reached out for comment from the family and others, but officials and family members did not respond further to requests. Investigators have not released additional details about evidence or a clear motive in public filings.
The shootings have prompted grief and concern in East St. Louis, a community already coping with longstanding public-safety and economic challenges. Local leaders and law enforcement officials have not yet announced public briefings or community support resources tied directly to this case; residents seeking information should monitor St. Clair County court records and statements from the East St. Louis Police Department.
— Reporting from East St. Louis by Grace Kowalski, Illinois correspondent.
