Coroner IDs Belleville teen fatally shot in East St. Louis
A 17-year-old teenager was shot to death Saturday evening in East St. Louis.
Parker A. Bujnak, of Belleville, was identified as the victim by St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. He was pronounced deceased at 9:30 p.m. at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Dye said.
Illinois State Police agents, working with the Public Safety Enforcement Group stationed in East St. Louis, were asked to assist in the homicide investigation. According to state police, that request came to them at 8:37 p.m.
Police found one male victim who had been struck by gunfire at 59th and State streets.
The only thing state police would say regarding the deadly shooting is that the investigation is active and no further information is available at this time. They would not say if they knew of a motive for the shooting.
Bujnak’s death marks the fourth homicide reported in the Belleville News-Democrat in East St. Louis in 2025.
He is the second teenager from Belleville shot to death in the past week. Di’Rico V. Washington, 16, was fatally shot in front of his home on North 81st Street in Belleville on Feb. 3. Another teenager, 17-year-old Joseph Flagg of East St. Louis, was charged in this shooting.
Friends of the family established a GoFundMe page to assist the family.
“Thank you in advance for considering helping them during this difficult time. If you know the Bujnaks, they love hard, are fiercely protective, and could really use the support as they navigate this life without their only son,” the page states.
This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 10:06 AM.
