O’Fallon teen faces murder charge in fatal shooting of woman, Illinois State Police say

An O’Fallon teenager faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman last month at a public housing complex in East St. Louis.

Ricky T. Clayton, 18, was charged with the murder offense on Friday, according to St. Clair County court records.

Markela Howliet, 21, of East St. Louis was fatally shot on Dec. 22 in a parking lot at the Samuel Gompers Homes in the 400 block of North Sixth Street in East St. Louis, Illinois State Police said in a news release Saturday.

“Clayton was in custody during the issuance of charges,” according to the news release. “No further information is available.”

The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Public Safety Enforcement Group arrested Clayton. Court records indicate Clayton was arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

The East St. Louis Police Department assisted Illinois State Police in the investigation.

In a detention hearing Tuesday morning, St. Clair County Associate Judge Sara L. Rice ruled that Clayton should be held in the county jail until his trial.

Clayton was represented by attorney Matthew A. Radefeld of Clayton, Missouri. Radefeld told Rice there wasn’t physical evidence to show that Clayton committed the crime.

St. Clair County Assistant State’s Attorney Levi Carwile told Rice that witnesses told police that Clayton was the shooter.

This story was originally published February 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM.