Prosecutor: Suspects in East St. Louis shootings had severed thumb during arrest
When law enforcement arrested a teenage couple accused of targeting and killing multiple members of the girl’s family, they found a human finger in the car the pair were driving, a prosecutor alleged in court Wednesday.
Police asked who it belonged to.
St. Clair County Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Lewis said the girl replied: “My grandma’s. She’s dead.”
That is one of several new details brought to light in a court hearing for the 16-year-old male suspect charged as an adult with first-degree murder, attempted murder and other allegations in a 12-count complaint. While Lewis argued it’s clear Ja’ymeir M. Davis and his girlfriend conspired to kill her family, Davis’ defense attorney said prosecutors have the narrative wrong.
“This is not a case where he is the hunter, he is the hunted,” part-time public defender Patrick Sullivan said. “The truth will come out.”
The couple is accused of killing the girl’s grandmother Patricia May, 74; aunt Cherie May, 49; sister Shania Thompson, 25; cousin Devin May, 24; and brother Quentin Thompson, 21.
The teen girl is not being named because she is charged in juvenile court and such records are not public. Prosecutors have petitioned to have her tried as an adult.
Her mother, Tiffany Thompson, and a cousin, Santosha Scott, survived and are recovering from their injuries.
Lewis discussed a string of messages believed to be between the two suspects in court. He said they discussed moving the body of the first victim, Cherie May, and killing other members of the girl’s family.
“Babe, I’m finna lose my whole family for you,” the girl allegedly wrote to Davis.
At one point, the girl asked Davis if he would do the same for her, Lewis said. Davis reportedly answered yes.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Lewis argued Davis should be held in jail until trial.
“If he gets out there’s every indication that he will finish what he started,” Lewis said.
But Sullivan said members of the girl’s family pointed guns at Davis. He argued that if anything, his client should be put in protective custody.
Ultimately, Associate Judge Sara Rice ordered that Davis remain in jail while awaiting trial. She said the allegations show a “horrifying sequence of events” and disregard for human life.
Murder, cutting off thumb among charges
Davis’ charges include five counts of first-degree murder, dismembering a body, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery, aggravated vehicular hijacking, and unlawful use of a stolen firearm.
Davis was automatically charged in adult court because juvenile court excludes first-degree murder from its jurisdiction when the defendant is 16 or older.
Davis’ charging documents accuse him of cutting off Patricia May’s thumb after her death. Lewis alleged this was to gain access to an iPhone, but he did not discuss a motive.
‘Targeted mass shooting’ timeline emerges
This was the sequence of events, according to information presented at the hearing, law enforcement statements and Davis’ charging documents:
- Cherie May was shot between July 5 and July 7
- Patricia and Devin May were shot between July 11 and July 12
- Santosha Scott, Tiffany Thompson, Shania Thompson and Quentin Thompson were shot on or about July 12
- Illinois State Police’s investigation began July 12, after East St. Louis police officers found Cherie May’s remains behind a building at the Samuel Gompers Homes
- Authorities found Patricia and Devin May at the public housing complex, Shania Thompson in an alley at 39th Street and Summit Avenue, and Quentin Thompson at Jones Park. Santosha Scott and Tiffany Thompson were also shot at Jones Park
- The teenage suspects were arrested July 12 at Frank Holten State Park
The incidents were investigated as a “targeted mass shooting” because they are related, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly has said.
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 15, 2026 at 12:58 PM.
