Police search for suspect in shooting death of Belleville man, 31, in East St. Louis
Police were searching Saturday for a suspect in the early-morning shooting death of Preston Rockett, 31, of Belleville.
Rockett was pronounced dead about 2:30 a.m. in front of a house in the 1000 block of 16th St. in East St. Louis, according to Rick Stone, the St. Clair County coroner.
Rockett resided in the 1400 block of Sangamon in Belleville.
As of Saturday afternoon, no motive was established for Rockett’s shooting.
Illinois State Police Sgt. Matt Weller, of the violent crimes unit, said police investigators were chasing down and following up on leads. He encouraged anyone with information pertaining to Rockett’s death to call East St. Louis Police at 482-6767 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (this is an anonymous tip line that pays up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest).
East St. Louis Police Chief Michael Hubbard said police received a call to investigate a report of shots fired with a man down in the 1000 block of North 16th Street at 1:26 a.m. When officers arrived they located Rockett’s body.
“It appeared he succumbed to a gunshot wound to his head and face,” Hubbard said.
Weller said East St. Louis police contacted Illinois State Police to assist them in the investigation.
“We are currently conducting a joint investigation with East St. Louis investigators. And, anyone with any information pertaining to this case should call either East St. Louis police or Illinois State Police,” Weller said.
This story was originally published April 23, 2016 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Police search for suspect in shooting death of Belleville man, 31, in East St. Louis."