Convicted felon faces murder charge after Dec. 23 shooting spree in East St. Louis

The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office filed charges against a Madison man in connection with a string of shootings in East St. Louis the morning of Dec. 23.

In addition to first-degree murder, Howard E. Doolin, 35, faces additional counts of armed robbery with discharge of a firearm, aggravated battery with a firearm, possession of a firearm while on parole, and being an “armed habitual criminal.”

Police say Doolin shot James E. Shafer in the leg. Shafer later died at an area hospital.

Doolin, who was paroled on felony convictions in both Illinois and Missouri, also is accused of two other shootings the same day, also in East St. Louis.

Police say he also shot Roneka Fair in the abdomen and Curtisha Warner in the leg in separate incidents. Their condition has not been released.

Doolin was being held at the St. Clair County Jail on $1 million bond.

Shafer’s death is one of 34 confirmed murders in East St. Louis in 2019.

This story was originally published January 3, 2020 at 11:19 PM.