Charges imminent for teens in Illinois family shooting
Criminal charges against two teenagers in custody for an Illinois mass shooting that killed five family members are expected imminently, according to St. Clair County prosecutors coordinating with state police. The 15- and 16-year-olds were arrested Sunday after a targeted shooting spree across East St. Louis left two others seriously wounded.
Illinois State Police called the killings a targeted mass shooting and said at least seven members of the same family were shot at three locations within a few miles of one another. Investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive, but officials confirmed at least one suspect is related to at least one victim.
Key Takeaways
- Two teens, ages 15 and 16, are in custody after five family members were killed in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
- St. Clair County State's Attorney James Gomric said a decision on criminal charges was expected by Tuesday, July 14.
- Shootings unfolded at three sites: North 39th Street and Summit Avenue, the Samuel Gompers Homes, and Jones Park.
- Two surviving victims were hospitalized with serious injuries.
- Police said there is no known ongoing threat to the public while the investigation continues.
What happened in the East St. Louis shooting?
Authorities described a mileslong shooting spree that targeted members of one family in southern Illinois. Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said during a Sunday news conference that the violence unfolded at three separate locations in East St. Louis.
One person was killed near Summit Avenue and North 39th Street, according to NBC News. Three victims were fatally shot at the Samuel Gompers Homes public housing project, and one more person was killed at Jones Park, where two others were also wounded.
Kelly called the killings terrible and evil but stressed they would not define the community. East St. Louis City Councilman Courtney Hoffman told residents the violence was not a random public threat like a grocery-store attack.
Who were the victims and suspects?
Police identified the five people killed 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 released full details on how all of the victims were related to one another.
The suspects are a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old. Police and prosecutors have not named them or disclosed their genders, citing limits on commenting about potential juvenile defendants. Kelly confirmed that one of the teens is related to at least one victim.
Illinois State Police said troopers arrested the pair on July 12 at Frank Holten State Park after executing a Precision Immobilization Technique maneuver on a vehicle one suspect was driving.
When will charges be filed against the teens?
As of Monday, no criminal charges had been filed, but officials said they were imminent. The Illinois State Police said it was working closely with the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office to pursue charges against both teenagers.
St. Clair County State's Attorney James Gomric told the Associated Press that a charging decision was expected by Tuesday, July 14, according to reporting from FOX 2. A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office noted that Illinois Supreme Court rules restrict public comment on cases involving potential juveniles.
USA Today reported that authorities were coordinating with prosecutors as detectives continued the investigation. Kelly said a clearer picture of what led to the violence would emerge over time.
Is the East St. Louis community still at risk?
Illinois State Police said there is no known threat to the public at this time. Kelly emphasized that the shooting was targeted and that residents should not treat it as indiscriminate violence.
Neighbors at the Gompers public housing complex described shock at the scale of the tragedy in a community where residents typically look out for one another. The investigation remains active, and officials said additional information will be released as it becomes available.
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