Police capture suspect in shooting death of Granite City woman last year

An East St. Louis man has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of a Granite City woman in April 2025.

Corey C. Ayers, 30, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Jamya T. Dukes, who was dropped off at Touchette Regional Hospital in Cahokia Heights and later pronounced deceased on April 1, 2025, according to an Illinois State Police news release on Wednesday.

“The location of the shooting was not initially known, but an extensive investigation by the Major Case Squad traced the location of the shooting to the 700 block of Veronica Avenue in East St. Louis and Ayers was identified as a suspect,” the news release states.

On Monday, Illinois State Police agents and the Major Case Squad presented evidence to St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric, who filed the murder charge.

With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, Illinois State Police agents arrested Ayers on Tuesday.

Ayers was being held in the St. Clair County Jail Wednesday.

This story was originally published March 4, 2026 at 5:08 PM.