Police investigate triple-homicide in East St. Louis; one arrest made

BY CAROLYN P. SMITH - News-Democrat

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EAST ST. LOUIS -- Police arrested one person Saturday night in connection the shooting deaths of three women who were shot while sitting in a car with two children.

Detective Ken Berry said the children, ages 1 and 8, were not injured in the shooting.

St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone said the three women died in a shooting reported about 9:30 p.m.

The three killings bring the total of homicides in the city this year to 27.

Police said a gunman opened fire as he approached three women and two children sitting in a Dodge Caliber parked at the Food Mart at the intersection of Collinsville Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

Detective Ken Berry said the children, ages 1 and 8, were not injured in the shooting.

The names of the shooting victims were not released by police but family members told the News-Democrat that Raykel Gathings, 26, and Jaimaca McDaniel, 24, died in the shooting.

Chamethele McKinney, a relative of Gathings, said Gathings was a fun person who also was laid-back and shy.

McKinney wants the gunman to pay dearly for this shooting.

"There were kids in that car," she said. "He showed no remorse."

Willie Holmes, 46, the father of McDaniel, said he saw his daughter a couple of days ago and she was in a good mood. He said his daughter had three sons.

The three shooting victims were all good friends, Holmes said.

McKinney said she is tired of all the homicides in East St. Louis.

"That's why we moved. City officials have got to get a handle on what's going on," she said, adding that kids have got to have a place to go for recreation.

Police have not established a motive for the shooting.

Illinois State Police officers are assisting East St. Louis officers in the investigation.

Last year, the city had 19 homicides.

Contact reporter Carolyn P. Smith at 239-2503.

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