Two teenagers aged 15 and 16 were taken into custody on July 12 in connection with a targeted mass shooting that killed five family members and seriously injured two others in East St Louis, Illinois [1, 2, 3, 4]. Authorities described the incident as a "terrible, terrible act of violence" and said the shooting took place at three locations across the city, including 39th and Summit, the Gompers public housing project, and Jones Park [1, 2, 3, 4].
Illinois State Police identified the five killed as Cherie L. May, 49; Devin D. May, 24; Patricia A. May, 74; Quentin L. Thompson, 21; and Shania W. Thompson, 25 [1, 2]. At least one suspect is related to one of the victims [1, 2]. The two injured victims were taken to a hospital in St Louis, Missouri, with serious wounds [2, 3, 4]. There were no bystanders hurt during the shootings [2].
The suspects were arrested near Holten State Park, east of East St Louis, after police received a call linked to investigating human remains [1, 2]. As of July 12, the teenagers had not been formally charged [1, 2, 3, 4].
Illinois State Police director Brendan Kelly called the shooting "horrific violence" and said, "it’s terrible, it’s evil, but it will not keep this city down" [1]. East St Louis has long faced high violent crime rates, but local law enforcement has sought to reduce them over recent years [1]. Illinois also enforces some of the strictest state-level gun laws in the country [2].
The shooting is among at least 12 mass murders reported in the US so far this year, seven of which are classified as family annihilations [2].
The investigation and legal proceedings are ongoing following the arrests made on July 12 [1, 2, 3, 4].
