Victim identified, Swansea woman charged in fatal East St. Louis shooting

A Swansea woman has been charged in connection with shooting and killing another woman in East St. Louis Wednesday.

Illinois State Police announced Friday that 23-year-old Brion D. Bess, of Swansea, was charged in St. Clair County Circuit Court with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Ni’Kajha A.K. Johnson, 24, of St. Louis.

Johnson was shot inside her vehicle while stopped at a stop sign at 25th Street and Ridge Avenue in East St. Louis, according to Illinois State Police. Officers with the East St. Louis Police Department and the Illinois State Police Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group responded about 1:12 p.m. Wednesday.

Johnson was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the release stated.

“Ni’Kajha, lovingly known as FatFat, was a beautiful soul and a joy to be around,” her mother Brandy Stanback wrote on a GoFundMe page for Johnson’s funeral and children. “She lit up every room she entered with her infectious laughter and fearless spirit.”

The GoFundMe is available online at gofund.me/d6255167a.

Bess is being held at the St. Clair County Jail pending her first court appearance, Friday’s release says.