Crime
16-Year-Old Ja’ymeir Davis and 15-year-old Wynitta Thompson Charged After Five Family Members Killed in East St. Louis Shooting Spree
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A 16-year-old suspect has been formally charged as an adult in connection with a devastating series of shootings that claimed the lives of five members of the same family and left two others seriously wounded in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that Ja’ymeir Davis, 16, is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors filed a criminal complaint and obtained an arrest warrant on July 14, 2026.
Under Illinois law, Davis was automatically charged in adult criminal court through the Juvenile Court Act’s excluded-jurisdiction provision, which requires defendants aged 16 or older accused of first-degree murder to be prosecuted as adults.
Prosecutors said they intend to seek pretrial detention at the earliest opportunity.
According to court records, Davis has been charged with:
- Five counts of First-Degree Murder
- Two counts of Attempted Murder
- Two counts of Aggravated Battery
- One count of Dismembering a Human Body
- One count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking
- One count of Unlawful Use of a Stolen Firearm
Officials have not released additional details regarding the specific allegations supporting each charge, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.
Authorities also identified a second suspect as 15-year-old Wynitta Thompson, who is currently facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder, through a juvenile delinquency petition.
The State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed prosecutors are seeking to have Thompson’s case transferred from juvenile court to adult court, where she could face prosecution under Illinois criminal law if the request is approved.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Illinois State Police and assisting agencies,” the State’s Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “Our thoughts remain with the victims and their families as they grieve this tremendous loss.”
Officials added they will not release further details about the facts of the case while the investigation and prosecution remain active.
The deadly violence unfolded on Sunday, July 12, when Illinois State Police responded to multiple shooting scenes throughout East St. Louis.
Investigators said the attacks occurred at three separate locations:
- Near 39th Street and Summit Avenue
- At the Samuel Gompers Homes in the 400 block of North 6th Street
- Jones Park in the 2500 block of Argonne Drive
Authorities have described the shootings as a targeted attack against members of the same family.
Officials identified the five victims killed in the shootings as:
- Patricia A. May, 74
- Cherie L. May, 49
- Devin D. May, 24
- Shania W. Thompson, 25
- Quentin L. Thompson, 21
Two additional family members survived the attacks but suffered serious injuries and were hospitalized.
Investigators said two teenage suspects, ages 15 and 16, were located and arrested at Frank Holten State Park following an intensive law enforcement search.
Authorities said officers used a PIT maneuver to stop a vehicle allegedly driven by one of the suspects before both teenagers were taken into custody without further incident.
Law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shootings but previously stated the violence appears to have specifically targeted members of the family. Investigators also emphasized there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The Illinois State Police continue to lead the investigation in coordination with the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office and other assisting agencies.
Officials have indicated additional evidence is still being reviewed, and further charges or court proceedings may follow as the case moves through the criminal justice system.
All criminal charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.