Charges filed in fatal stabbing of East St. Louis woman

A 42-year-old East St. Louis man was arrested and charged Tuesday in connection with a fatal stabbing last week.

Jamal L. Wilson faces a first-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of Shanika S. Barbee, 38, Saturday.

Barbee was pronounced dead at a residence in the 3200 block of State Street. Officers with the East St. Louis Police Department and Illinois State Police agents found Barbee’s body inside the home.

Illinois State Police said in a press release said officers responded to the location at approximately 2:45 p.m. Saturday for a homicide investigation. It was not immediately clear whether Barbee lived alone or whether police had previously been called to the residence.

The homicide was the second fatal stabbing in East St. Louis of the week. On Monday, Michelle A. Schultz, 38, of Belleville, was charged with murder in the death of Van T. Perry, 67, at his home in the 6900 block of Church Lane.

This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 2:39 PM.