Three people charged with murder in slaying of Collinsville man during home invasion
Three people have been charged in the slaying of a Collinsville man who was found shot to death in his home Thursday, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis announced Wednesday.
Two of the suspects are in custody. Authorities are searching for the third suspect, who is considered armed and dangerous, police said.
Darian A. Woods, 23, was found dead of a gunshot wound on the floor of his home at 107 Crandall St. on Thursday evening.
Police say the slaying happened during a home invasion and armed robbery.
Charged are George Lacey, 25; Adisa Smith, 27; and Demandrell Davis, 40, said Mark Kuechle, a detective sergeant for the Collinsville Police Department and deputy commander of the Major Case Squad. The suspects are all from Belleville.
Each is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery and home invasion. Lacey is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Madison County Circuit Judge Janet Heflin issued a no bond order for the three suspects. Smith and Davis are being held at the Collinsville Police Department.
Lacey is currently at large, Kuechle said. Authorities are asking anyone with information on Lacey’s whereabouts to call their local police department.
“The Major Case Squad extends its condolences to the family and hopes that through justice, they may find peace,” Kuechle said during a press conference broadcast on Facebook.
The Collinsville Police activated the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis on Thursday after receiving a call that someone had been shot during a home invasion.
When police officers arrived at Woods’ home, they found him dead inside from a gunshot wound.
When asked whether Woods knew the suspects or whether the police recovered a weapon, Kuechle said, “We can’t release any information on evidence recovered or additional information on connections/motives.”
Kuechle said 14 investigators from various police departments worked more than 100 hours investigating this case. He said their hard work, despite this pandemic led to the arrests and charges.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This story was originally published November 25, 2020 at 10:47 AM.
