Man charged with murder in death of one of two men killed in Cahokia Heights shooting
A 28-year-old Cahokia Heights man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of one of the two men fatally shot in late September in Cahokia Heights.
Demonte J. James, of the 4700 block of Westwood Drive in Cahokia Heights, was charged with first-degree murder by St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric’s office Tuesday.
James is charged in the death of 26-year-old Brian K. Hill of Belleville on Sept. 25.
A second person, Jeffrey Paine Jr., 38, of Cahokia Heights, also was fatally shot in the same incident.
No one has been charged for Paine’s death but police believe the two shooting deaths are connected.
The charging documents allege James, without lawful justification and with intent to kill or do great bodily harm, shot Hill multiple times about his body with a firearm.
The documents filed by the state’s attorney’s office to hold James in jail until his trial says he has a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution. A detention hearing for James has not yet been scheduled.
James is currently being held in the Menard State Correctional Center on a parole violation. A defense attorney is not listed for him on St. Clair County court records.
The double homicide occurred in the 7400 block of Old Missouri Avenue.
Police responded to the scene after receiving a call of gunfire with a person possibly shot. On arrival, they located one gunshot victim on the side of a building. Police learned about the second victim while on scene.
“He was across the street,” Cahokia Heights Police Department Detective DeMarius Thomas said.
Other details of the shooting, including a motive, have not been released.
Both victims were pronounced deceased at Touchette Regional Hospital in Cahokia Heights.
Thomas was the lead investigator. He was assisted in the investigation by Detective Jamal Jackson and Major Tony Tomlinson.
During the course of the investigation, the officers garnered multiple leads that led to the arrest of a person of interest.
Thomas said investigators worked tirelessly to apprehend the killer and some days they worked 17 hours, following up on all of the leads.
This story was originally published November 16, 2023 at 2:42 PM.
