East St. Louis, Ill. — Two teenagers have been charged after a series of shootings across East St. Louis that investigators describe as a targeted mass shooting, authorities said. The attacks left five people dead and two others seriously injured, according to the Illinois State Police and the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Arrests and charges
State police said the two suspects were taken into custody on July 12 at Frank Holten State Park, a recreation area near East St. Louis, after troopers used a precision immobilization technique to stop a vehicle. Two days later, on July 14, St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric approved a slate of charges against the younger of the two suspects.
The 16-year-old, identified by police as Ja'ymier Davis, will be prosecuted as an adult and faces multiple felonies. A 15-year-old girl, whose name has not been released, is the subject of a juvenile delinquency petition that includes first-degree murder counts; prosecutors intend to seek a transfer of her case to adult court, state police said.
| Defendant | Age | Charges (selected) |
|---|---|---|
| Ja'ymier Davis | 16 | 5 counts first-degree murder; 2 counts attempted first-degree murder; aggravated battery; aggravated vehicular hijacking; dismembering a human body; unlawful use of a stolen firearm |
What authorities have said
State police characterized the incidents as deliberate attacks on members of a single family at multiple locations in the city, which sits on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River opposite downtown St. Louis. Officials have not released the names or ages of the victims beyond identifying the relationship connections shared by family members, citing the ongoing investigation.
- Date of arrests: July 12, 2026
- Charges approved: July 14, 2026
- Location of arrest: Frank Holten State Park, near East St. Louis
"I can’t show her no sympathy. I hate to be like that, especially in this time. But it is what it is,"
The comment came from Marcus May, the father of the 15-year-old suspect, who told local news outlets that he lost his mother, sister and a nephew in the shootings.
Community and next steps
Authorities have not released further case details, including timelines for arraignment or evidence presented to support the charges. The St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office said it will seek to move the 15-year-old's case into adult criminal court, a step that, if approved, would subject her to adult prosecution and potential sentencing.
Investigators continue to process multiple crime scenes across East St. Louis. Anyone with information related to the shootings has been asked to contact Illinois State Police detectives or local law enforcement. Victims’ names and fuller accounts of the incidents will be released as families are notified and the investigation permits.
Coverage of this developing case will continue as prosecutors file formal court actions and police release additional findings. Local resources for those affected by domestic violence or family trauma remain available; the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-7233 or at www.thehotline.org.
