EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — Two teenagers were charged Tuesday in the shootings that left five members of a single family dead and two others wounded in what authorities are calling a targeted mass shooting spanning three locations in East St. Louis.
Arrests and charges
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said troopers stopped a vehicle and arrested the teens Sunday in a state park. Court filings and statements from the St. Clair County prosecutor’s office show a 16-year-old boy will be prosecuted as an adult. A 15-year-old girl will begin in juvenile court, with the possibility of transfer to St. Clair County criminal court.
The older teen, identified in court records as Ja’ymeir Davis, appeared in court on a dozen charges, including five counts of murder, and was ordered to remain in custody. The public defender's office was appointed to represent him. Authorities say the shootings occurred primarily over the weekend, though one victim — identified in a court filing as Cheriè May — was wounded days earlier and later died.
Victims and alleged actions
Family members described heavy losses. According to relatives and a court filing, the victims included people aged 74, 49, 25, 24 and 21. Two additional people were wounded.
- Five family members were killed across three locations.
- Two additional people were wounded.
- Arrests were made Sunday after a traffic stop at a state park.
“I can’t show her no sympathy. She chose to do this,”
The quote above was offered by Marcus May, the father of the 15-year-old, who told local media the younger suspect was upset with family members and allegedly plotted the attacks with Davis. May said he lost a nephew, two stepchildren, his mother and a sister.
Court documents also allege that Davis killed Patricia May and cut off her right thumb, among other violent acts described in filings. Authorities have not released a motive, and formal hearings are expected to address whether the 15-year-old will be transferred into adult court.
Legal and community implications
Prosecutors have taken the step of charging a minor as an adult in this case, underscoring the severity of the allegations. Under Illinois law, prosecutors can seek to try juveniles as adults for serious crimes; the 16-year-old will face criminal court, while the 15-year-old’s case must first be handled in juvenile court before any transfer request is considered.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrests | Sunday, at a state park (vehicle stop) |
| Charged | 16-year-old prosecuted as adult; 15-year-old begins in juvenile court |
| Victims killed | 5 (ages 74, 49, 25, 24, 21) |
| Wounded | 2 |
| Lead prosecutor actions | Multiple murder counts; detention ordered for adult defendant |
Officials have not publicly detailed the specific timeline for the shootings beyond saying most occurred over the weekend and one victim was wounded earlier. The St. Clair County prosecutor’s office has not disclosed a motive, and investigators with the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement continue to develop the case.
For residents of East St. Louis, the killings add to a community already grappling with the effects of violent crime and raise questions about family conflict, juvenile involvement in serious offenses and the path forward for grieving relatives.
As the legal process unfolds, local authorities are expected to release further details at court hearings and press briefings. The names of all victims and some investigative specifics were made available in court documents and family statements; other evidence and statements have not been released publicly.
This report will be updated as courts and law enforcement provide new information.
