Paroled felon charged in Alton double homicide

A man who was on parole from prison has been charged with four counts of murder, a day after the Major Case Squad was activated to investigate a double homicide in Alton.

Elijah S. Ingram and Derrick J. Vaughn were shot and killed in their home in the 3100 block of Lawn Street in the Alton Acres housing development Monday night. Police received reports of shots fired at about 10:31 p.m. Monday and found both men dead in the house.

The Major Case Squad announced Wednesday that a person of interest had been taken into custody. Later Wednesday, they announced that Vincent Gordon, 35, of Alton, had been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of unlawful possession of weapons by a felon and one count of escape.

Police did not specify how they narrowed down to Gordon as a suspect. The escape charge alleges that Gordon was on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections and had removed an electronic monitoring device from his body.

Gordon was taken into custody without any problems shortly before 4 a.m. Wednesday on Easton Street. His bail has been set at $5 million, and he remained in custody Wednesday afternoon.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Department said it was not considered a random act of violence, and that it believed the shooter knew the two men.

Police asked that anyone with information about the case contact the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, the Alton Police Department or St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers. Callers may remain anonymous and may call any of the following numbers:

▪ Alton Police Department, 618-463-3505

▪ Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, 618-463-3505, Ext: 645

▪ St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers, 866-371-8477

This story was originally published May 23, 2018 at 1:01 PM with the headline "Paroled felon charged in Alton double homicide."