Man charged after all in connection with shooting death of St. Louis man in Cahokia
Hours after police said prosecutors declined to charge a suspect in connection with a week-old murder, a Cahokia man has been charged in connection with the shooting death of Mahir Smajic in Cahokia last week.
The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis announced Tuesday that it had identified a person of interest in its investigation. Originally, the police unit reported that the St. Clair County state’s attorney’s office said it would take the case under advisement pending further review, but declined to charge the suspect.
Later Tuesday afternoon, State’s Attorney Jim Gomric’s office charged Celdre L. Ross, 24, with one count of a felon in possession of a firearm, a felony. According to police, Ross lived at the house where Smajic’s body was found.
Smajic, of St. Louis, was shot to death while he was pulling out of a driveway in the 700 block of Mildred Avenue in the early morning hours of Aug. 22, police said. The Major Case Squad was activated to investigate the homicide along with Cahokia police.
In a news release, the Major Case Squad said it had located and interviewed witnesses who were present at the time of the shooting. They developed a person of interest who was found in Godfrey and took him into custody Sunday without incident.
Ross is in police custody at the St. Clair County Jail. His bail is $50,000.
The Major Case Squad said it has concluded its participation in the investigation and turned all materials over to Cahokia police.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Cahokia Police Department at 618-337-9505 and talk to Capt. Dennis Plew.
This story was originally published August 27, 2019 at 1:07 PM.
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