Three charged in shooting of metro-east teenagers, one fatally

Three Cahokia Heights men have been charged in connection with the shooting of two 15-year-old boys, one of them fatally.

Charles E. Jones, 15, of Cahokia Heights, died Monday morning at Saint Louis University Hospital from the bullet wounds he sustained in the shooting,said Tara Rick of the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s office.

A second boy, also 15, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released.

The shooting occurred in the 100 block of Lazarcheff Drive between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, according to the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, which led the investigation.

On Wednesday, St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric charged three in connection with the shooting:

▪ Donte Jackson, 21, of the 100 block of Lazaercheff Dr., was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm. According to charging documents, Jackson fired a handgun in the direction of a 2017 Nissan Altima, knowing that the car was occupied.

▪ Xavier K. Lacey, 19, of the 4700 block of Piggott Ave., also was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm. The warrant alleges that he fired into the house where the shooting occurred knowing, or should have known, that it was occupied.

▪ Deontrez D. Mosley, 18, of the 5600 block of Central Ave., was charged with one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm and two counts of receiving and possessing a stolen vehicle.

The three are being held at the St. Clair County Jail.

The shooting is the latest in a rash of violent crimes involving metro-east teenagers.

On Feb. 3, Di’Rico V. Washington, 16, of Belleville, died after being shot on 81st Street. Belleville Police arrested three suspects in connection with the shooting.

On the same day, a Missouri teenager, Kingston Todd, 16, was charged in St. Clair County with murder in the shooting death of Cody Rhodes, 37, in Dupo. Two others also were arrested in connection with the crime.

Parker Bujnak, 17, of Belleville, was shot and killed on 59th and State Streets in East St. Louis of Feb. 8. Celvin Rogers, 19, of East St. Louis now faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder.

In January, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney charged Jalyn A. Givins, 19, with first-degree murder of the 2024 death of Hayden Chisholm, 16, months after he was shot at a Belleville skate park.

Also in January, Giovannie Anderson-Bey, 16, of East St. Louis, died at Memorial Hospital in Belleville after being shot in the 2400 block of Bond Avenune. Illinois State Police are still investigating.

This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 5:51 PM.