Federal charges filed in shooting death of East St. Louis bank guard
Two men face charges in the U.S. District Court for Southern Illinois in relation to a deadly bank robbery attempt in East St. Louis Friday.
One of them, the charges allege, presented a note to a teller at First Bank, 350 River Park Drive, which read in all caps: “I got a bomb strapped to my chest. Put all the money in or everyone will die.”
A bank guard, Ted Horn, 56, of St. Libory, attempted to stop the men and was fatally shot by the second robber.
Charged Sunday were Jaylan D. Quinn, 22, and Andrew R. Brinkley, 19, said U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft.
Quinn, of St. Louis, was charged with armed bank robbery resulting in death, with could result in life in prison or the death penalty, according to a release from the federal court.
Brinkley, also of St. Louis, was charged with bank robbery, which is punishable of up to 20 years in federal prison, three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine, the release stated.
“The shooter rightly faces life in federal prison,” Weinhoeft said in a statement. “Armed violence is intolerable in any civilized society, and we are resolved that a firm and definite measure of justice will be imposed in this case.
According to the federal complaint, two masked men entered the bank about 4 p.m. on Friday. After making their demands and getting $1,140 in cash, the two headed for the door and a white Lexus sedan.
Brinkley, wearing a white mask, allegedly shoved Horn out of the way and ran out the door. Quinn, the charges state, drew a semi-automatic handgun and shot Horn in the head.
Quinn admitted to investigators that he shot Horn because thought the security guard was going to kill him, according to the criminal complaint.
The FBI, which led the investigation, released the surveillance photos to the media late Friday. Agents later received a call from an off-duty St. Louis County police officer who told them a man he encountered told him one of the men in the photos looks like his son, Andrew, charges stated.
The man told agents his son denied that it was him in the surveillance photo, but he nevertheless encouraged him to turn himself in to authorities to clear his name.
By Saturday afternoon, federal agents had executed a search warrant of Brinkley’s St. Louis residence Saturday and recovered a loaded 9mm handgun, two marked bills that were taken during the First Bank robbery, and clothing that matched what the robbers wore, according to the FBI.
A white Lexus sedan also was found parked outside.
An Illinois State Police forensic scientist was able to identify a finger print left on the demand note as Brinkley’s, the criminal complain stated.
Brinkley and Quinn’s first appearance in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
Horn was pronounced dead at the scene. He is survived by his wife, two adult sons, and three grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for noon on Sept. 4 at Wenneman Park in Marissa.
“The FBI offers our deepest condolences to the family of security guard Ted Horn, whose life was senselessly taken in a vicious act of violence,” said FBI-Springfield’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy Ferguson. “This case demonstrates the tenacity of the FBI and our law enforcement partners in investigating and identifying the subjects swiftly.
“We thank the public for their vigilance, as well as our media partners who provided critical details to the communities.”
Investigators also suspect Brinkley and Quinn of attempting to rob Busey Bank in Fairmont City on Thursday.
The case is being investigated by FBI-Springfield, with assistance from the Illinois State Police and the East St. Louis Police Department.
Surveillance video obtained by police showed “those two males appeared to be wearing the same masks and clothing as the two black masked males that committed the First Bank robbery in East St. Louis, Illinois,” the criminal complaint against them says.
The video also shows two masked men in a white Lexus with tinted windows, temporary tags and a missing gas cap.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Summers is prosecuting the case.
This story was originally published August 29, 2021 at 6:44 PM.
