Two men charged in connection with rash of Alton shootings
Two Alton men are in jail on $1 million bond each after charges were issued against them in connection with several area shootings that occurred over two and a half weeks in Alton.
Russell B. Bausily, 30, and Devonta D. Cotton, 25, each faces charges in Madison County Court as of May 1, a news release from the Alton Police Department stated.
Bausily has been charged with armed robbery, five counts of being an armed habitual criminal, six counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
Cotton has been charged with armed robbery, four counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felony, five counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm
According to the release, Bausily and Cotton are responsible for the following shootings:
- March 25: shooting at a vehicle and a person at Hellrung Park in Alton. The victim in that shooting is expected to survive.
- March 27: shooting at a residence in the 700 block of Hoffman Street in Alton. No one was injured in that shooting.
- April 8: armed robbery with a handgun and shooting at people in the 800 block of Gold Street in Alton. No one was injured in that shooting.
- April 8: shooting at a passing car in the 200 block of Madison Avenue in Alton. A residence in the area was struck by stray bullets and Jasmine Kay Johnson, a 22-year-old University of Missouri journalism student who was studying in a room, was struck in the head by a bullet and was seriously injured. Police said Johnson had a successful surgery on Monday in St. Louis that would “hopefully improve her recovery.”
Bausily is also accused of shooting at an occupied vehicle in the 3200 block of Belle Street on April 5.
Police said in the release that Bausily and Cotton committed the crimes with the intent of shooting people they had a dispute with. Both men were in custody at the Madison County Jail as of Monday afternoon.
Additional charges may be filed against Bausily and Cotton as the investigation continues, police said. No other details will be released, police say.
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 12:52 PM.
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