Suspects charged in Madison County apartment complex murder

The Madison County State’s Attorney’s office filed charges against two people in connection with the fatal shooting of a 42-year-old man Tuesday at the Alton Housing Authority’s Oakwood Estates complex, authorities said.

Isaih R. Pierson, 19, of Alton was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, both Class M felonies, and one count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, a Class 4 felony, the Alton Police Department said in a news release. Gnyia D. Hardimon, 20, also of Alton, was charged with obstructing justice, police said.

The victim was identified as John T. Anthony, 42, of Alton.

Judge Mayer signed arrest warrants and ordered Pierson held in the Madison County Jail pending a detention hearing under the Illinois SAFE-T Act, police said. Hardimon will be released with conditions, according to the release.

Officers were called about 4:19 a.m. March 10 to the 700 block of Oakwood Estates after a 911 caller reported hearing gunshots, police said. While officers were en route, dispatchers received additional information that a man had been shot.

Responding officers found the victim and rendered aid until Alton Fire Department EMS arrived and took over medical care, police said. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

At the same time, officers contacted a person of interest at an apartment within the complex and took that person into custody without incident, police said previously. Investigators said the victim and suspect knew each other and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.

“Our officers responded quickly, rendered aid, and took the suspect into custody without incident,” Police Chief Jarrett Ford said in the release, adding that detectives “put in solid work to bring this case to a quick resolution.” Ford also expressed condolences to Anthony’s family.

Police said the case was presented to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. The department also thanked the Alton Fire Department, Illinois State Police, Madison County Coroner’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the state’s attorney’s office for assistance.

This story was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by BND journalists.