Authorities apprehended two teenagers, one of whom was related to the victims, following a series of lethal “targeted” shootings in Illinois that resulted in the deaths of five family members and left two others critically injured on Sunday.
The incidents, characterized by police as a mass shooting, occurred across three sites in the East St. Louis area in the southern part of the state: a public housing development, a park, and another residence.
The five deceased were identified as Patricia May (74), Shelley May (49), Devin May (24), Shania Thompson (25), and Quentin Thompson (21). The identities of the seriously injured individuals have not been disclosed.
“They’re all connected, given the nature of a mass shooting, and with this being a large city featuring multiple complex crime scenes, it may be fitting to classify it as such,” said Illinois State Police Commissioner Brenden Kelly.
“It’s horrifying. It’s pure evil. But this city isn’t going to be brought down by it,” he remarked to reporters on Sunday. “The strides we’ve made won’t be undone.”
The detained teens, aged 15 and 16, were apprehended following a traffic stop. Police indicated that one of them is suspected of direct involvement in the shootings.
One of the teenagers is also a relative of the victims, though further details weren’t provided.
“The situation is coming together. Many local law enforcement officers and ISP special agents are actively engaged in investigating these particular matters, and insights will emerge over time,” Kelly stated.
As of Monday morning, no motive has been established, and no formal charges have been filed.
“You can’t help but wonder what could drive them to act this way,” East St. Louis City Councilwoman Courtney Hoffman II expressed. “That’s the pressing question: why? What prompted this?”
