St. Clair County judge orders ‘sanity’ exam of man accused of killing brother
A “bona fide doubt” has been raised about the mental fitness of a man charged with fatally shooting his brother, seriously injuring his brother’s girlfriend in Cahokia Heights, and then holding another family hostage in Shiloh the day before Thanksgiving.
A St. Clair County judge in Belleville on Tuesday ordered a forensic psychologist to evaluate the "sanity" of 39-year-old Jerome Curry, according to court records.
“Defense raises a bona fide doubt into the Defendant’s ability” to stand trial on his murder charge and multiple other offenses, states the order from Associate Judge Sara L. Rice.
Curry is charged in the shooting death of his brother, 43-year-old Terrence Curry, and in the shooting of Roshanda McClinton, according to court records.
Charging documents allege Curry used a 9 mm firearm to shoot McClinton in the leg.
Cahokia Heights Police Chief Thomas L. Trice said the female victim later identified as McClinton was seriously wounded but stable.
Responding police officers found McClinton hiding behind a vehicle on the evening of Nov. 26 and rendered first aid.
Terrence Curry was found fatally shot inside his home in the 4900 block of Piggott Avenue, according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.
Trice declined to release information about a possible motive for the shooting. He said several handguns were recovered in the investigation.
While investigating the Piggott Avenue shooting, officers were notified that a family, including children, was being held hostage by Curry in a Shiloh residence, Trice said.
“He eventually released that family and the kids,” Trice said. “We had a short standoff with him.”
Shiloh and O’Fallon officers assisted Cahokia Heights officers in the standoff.
“He ended up giving himself up and came out,” Trice said.
Trice said Curry fled to Shiloh after hearing police sirens approaching the home on Piggott Avenue. Investigators believe this saved McClinton’s life, as officers arrived within three minutes of the 911 call. Trice also noted that bullets that struck McClinton did not hit major arteries and she is expected to "make a full recovery."
A GoFundMe account was established to support Terrence Curry’s minor survivors.
Charges filed in shootings
Court records show Curry was charged Friday with the following eight counts by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office: murder, attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and three counts of possession of a weapon by a felon. Curry has a prior conviction for first-degree robbery in St. Louis. Weapons seized in the case include a CZ Scorpion 9 mm handgun, a Stoeger STR9 9 mm handgun and a Ruger 57.
“The investigators on this case worked tirelessly to bring this guy to justice and they did an outstanding job,” working through the Thanksgiving holiday, Trice said.
Dr. Daniel Cuneo, a Belleville forensic psychologist who evaluates the mental fitness of defendants for courts throughout the metro-east, was ordered to examine Curry. Since Curry is indigent, the county will pay for the examination.
The St. Clair County Public Defender’s Office was assigned to represent Jerome Curry. Public Defender Cathy MacElroy could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Curry on Tuesday waived his right to a detention hearing and remained in the county jail. Court records state he is homeless and also list his address as Jarvis Place in Cahokia Heights.
Illinois judges have been conducting detention hearings since September 2023 for people charged with serious offenses. Under the state’s revamped criminal justice system, which eliminated cash bail as part of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, or SAFE-T, Act, a judge can order a defendant to remain in jail if considered dangerous to the community.
