Victims in East St. Louis shootings may have been killed days apart
Charging documents filed Tuesday reveal the timeline for a series of shootings targeting an East St. Louis family that left five people dead and two wounded.
One of the seven victims is believed to have been shot about a week before the others, according to the court documents.
Prosecutors filed murder charges Tuesday against the two teenage suspects in the shootings: a 15-year-old girl who is related to the family and her 16-year-old boyfriend.
Ja’ymeir M. Davis, 16, of East St. Louis, was charged Tuesday as an adult in a 12-count complaint that includes first-degree murder, attempted murder and other charges. The 15-year-old is charged in juvenile court, where records are not public, but prosecutors plan to ask the court to charge her as an adult, too.
St. Clair County public defender’s office has been appointed to represent Davis. Public Defender Cathy MacElroy could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
The charges against Davis say that investigators think Cherie L. May, the 15-year-old suspect’s aunt, was shot between July 5-7.
Authorities believe two more victims were shot between July 11-12: Patricia A. May, the suspect’s grandmother, and Devin D. May, the suspect’s cousin.
St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. said Cherie, Patricia and Devin May were found dead at the Samuel Gompers Homes.
The suspect’s mother Tiffany Thompson, siblings Shania and Quentin Thompson, and cousin Santosha Scott were shot around July 12, according to law enforcement. Shania Thompson was found dead at 39th Street and Summit Avenue, according to Dye. He said Quentin Thompson was found dead at Jones Park.
Tiffany Thompson and Scott survived the shooting at Jones Park and are recovering at a hospital.
Illinois State Police said in a news release Tuesday that its investigation began July 12 after East St. Louis Police officers discovered Cherie May’s remains. Dye said her body was behind one of the buildings at the public housing complex.
Officials have not discussed a possible motive. The charging documents do not provide one.
Prosecutors filed a petition to detain Davis in jail until his trial. A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday.
Two GoFundMe accounts have been established for surviving family members to cover funeral costs and other expenses, including counseling.
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 4:06 PM.
