Man dead of self-inflicted gunshot after East St. Louis chase. ID released

A St. Louis man died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police pursuit in East St. Louis early Saturday morning.

Illinois State Police identified the man as 25-year-old Antonio D. Nelson on Tuesday.

According to a release the Illinois State Police sent on Monday, East St. Louis police officers attempted to stop a vehicle near the intersection of 47th Street and State Street at approximately 2:30 a.m.

The vehicle fled, then struck a raised concrete median and “became disabled” at the 25th Street and St. Clair Avenue intersection. Officers approached the vehicle and found the driver, now identified as Nelson, deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the release says.

The location of the gunshot was not specified.

Illinois State Police is investigating the incident at the request of the East St. Louis Police Department. The investigation is ongoing.

This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 10:16 AM.