Funeral set for teen gunned down in Belleville

Shenandoah Burton is being remembered for her faith along with her compassion for others.

Burton, 18, was fatally shot over the weekend in Belleville. The suspect, Christopher D. Boyd, 25, of St. Louis, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot while fleeing police in Missouri early Sunday, authorities reported.

Police said Boyd was upset over a breakup on Saturday and had been stalking his ex-girlfriend and two of her friends, including Burton, before the shooting. The incident occurred in the 1700 block of Jamestown Road at the city limits between Belleville and Swansea. Burton was pronounced dead early Sunday at Memorial Hospital in Belleville.

Burton was from Coulterville, according to her obituary posted by the Pyatt Funeral Home. Belleville police reported her hometown was O’Fallon and the St. Clair County coroner’s office listed it as Swansea.

The funeral and visitation for Burton are scheduled for Friday in Coulterville.

“She was a firm believer in Christ,” Burton’s obituary states. “Shenandoah was known for her compassion, being an avid animal lover, having a fighting spirit, loving the water and earth, and especially going on vacation with her” family.

Burton, who enjoyed dancing and walking her dogs, wanted to earn a degree from Southwestern Illinois College to become an X-ray technician, according to her obituary.

The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Pyatt Funeral Home, 204 E. Locust St., in Coulterville. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday prior to the funeral. Burial will be in Coulterville City Cemetery.