Two teenagers were arrested on Sunday in connection with a mass shooting that left five family members dead and two others critically injured in East St. Louis, Illinois.
According to People, the victims were identified as Patricia A. May, 74, Cherie L. May, 49, Devin D. May, 24, Shania W. Thompson, 25, and Quentin L. Thompson, 21. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact family relationships among all of the victims. Two additional family members who were injured during the shooting remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Police identified the suspects as a 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy. According to investigators, officers used a precision immobilization technique (PIT maneuver) to stop the suspects’ vehicle before taking both teens into custody. Authorities also said the 15-year-old girl is related to three of the victims.
Boy Charged as Adult, Prosecutors Seek Adult Charges for Girl
According to FOX 8 Live, the 16-year-old has been charged as an adult in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
The charges include:
Five counts of first-degree murder
Two counts of attempted murder
Two counts of aggravated battery
One count of dismembering a human body
Two counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking
One count of unlawful use of a firearm
Under Illinois’ Juvenile Court Act, individuals who are 16 or older and charged with first-degree murder are automatically prosecuted in adult court. The 15-year-old girl also faces first-degree murder charges. Prosecutors have asked the court to transfer her case to adult court, alleging she was also responsible for the killings.
Victim’s Relative Speaks Out
Marcus May, the father of the 15-year-old suspect, said several of those killed were members of his own family, including his mother, sister, and nephew. He explained that he couldn’t express any sympathy towards his daughter.
“I hate to be like that, especially in this time. But it is what it is,” May said when asked about his daughter.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the events leading up to the arrests.
