Investigators trying to connect abandoned cars to homicide in East St. Louis
A 22-year old East St. Louis man was shot dead and left laying in a yard in the 1300 block of North 41st Street in East St. Louis Monday night.
Police do not have any suspects or a motive for what authorities have confirmed is the city’s 21st confirmed homicide this year. In the meantime, investigators are looking into any possible connections between the shooting and two vehicles that were later abandoned, one of which was set on fire.
St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. identified the shooting victim as Terry Morgan, 22, whose last known address was in the 4000 block of Audubon in East St. Louis. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:30 p.m.
East St. Louis Police Sgt. Cantrell Patterson said passers by discovered Morgan’s body and called police at 10:08 p.m. Monday. Illinois State Police is jointly investigating, he said.
A vehicle that fled from Washington Park police and was later recovered, may be connected to the shooting, as may a gray SUV that was found abandoned with three bullet holes in the driver’s side door, police say.
Washington Park Police Chief Allen Bonds said, at about the same time East St. Louis Police received the call about the discovery of Morgan’s body, an officer observed an SUV parked in the middle of the street at 48th Street and Forest Avenue with two unknown black males standing in front of it.
As the officer approached, the two jumped into the vehicle and fled.
“The officer tried to catch up to to vehicle to get a license plate number,” Bonds said.
Four to six black males bailed out of the vehicle at 36th and Waverly Avenue, Bonds said. All remain at large. Bonds confirmed his officers found an extended ammunition clip on the ground next to the abandoned vehicle.
Washington Park police also located a gray SUV that had three bullet holes in the driver’s-side door. That vehicle was set on fire, said Jason Blackmon, chief of the East St. Louis Fire Department.
Bonds said it is not certain that the vehicles are connected to the homicide.
Anyone with information is asked to call East St. Louis police, Illinois State police, or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS. This anonymous police tip line pays up to $1,000 for information which leads to an arrest.
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 2:55 PM.
