Arrest made, charges filed in shooting death of Belleville teenager

Murder and armed robbery charges have been filed in connection with the shooting death of a Belleville teenager earlier this month.

Parker Bujnak, 17, of Belleville, was shot while standing outside a vehicle near the intersection of 59th and State streets in East St. Louis at about 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 8. He was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Wednesday, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney office charged 19-year-old Celvin Rogers of East St. Louis with multiple felonies in connection with the shooting. Rogers has been charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery with discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.

Rogers was arrested in Missouri by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to a release from Illinois State Police, which led the investigation with assistance from the East St. Louis Police Department. He was booked into the St. Clair County Jail on Friday morning and he has waived his right to a detention hearing, according to jail and court records.

A defense attorney for Rogers was not listed in court records as of Friday.

Bujnak was a junior at Belleville East High School and graduate of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, according to his obituary. He was interested in electronics, building “and creating,” the obit stated. He is survived by a younger sister, his parents, grandparents and great grandparents.

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 20, 2025 at 6:29 AM.