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
Vicksburg Murder-Suicide Suspect Cedric Garrett Who Killed His Wife Val-Tricia Today, Also Killed His Brother Derrick Maxey in 2002
VICKSBURG, Miss. — Authorities are investigating an apparent murder-suicide after 53-year-old Val-Tricia Garrett, widely known in the community as “Ms. Val,” and her 40-year-old husband, Cedric Garrett, were found dead inside a vehicle behind the Vicksburg Convalescent Home on Friday, November 13, 2026.
The deaths have drawn renewed attention to a separate fatal incident involving Cedric Garrett more than two decades earlier in the same city.
According to law enforcement reports, the incident began unfolding around 7 a.m. Friday when Cedric Garrett, who used the name “Gee Gskii” on Facebook, began a live broadcast on the platform. During the video, he admitted to killing his wife and spoke at length about their 16-year relationship, alternating between expressions of love and accusations.
Throughout the recording, Garrett repeatedly apologized, stated that he had made serious mistakes, and claimed he had previously sought help without receiving support. He indicated that he intended to take his own life and stated he was driving to the nursing home where his mother worked. At one point during the broadcast, the camera panned toward the front passenger seat, showing an individual lying motionless.
Vicksburg police were alerted to the video as it circulated online and responded to the area around 9 a.m. Officers located Garrett armed inside a vehicle parked behind the Vicksburg Convalescent Home, near the intersection of Shannon and Cherry streets.
Police attempted to establish communication and bring the standoff to a peaceful resolution. At approximately 9:42 a.m., gunfire was reported from the vehicle. Vicksburg Police Chief Larry Burns confirmed that Garrett died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. When officers approached the car, they discovered Val-Tricia Garrett deceased in the front passenger seat.
Court and historical news records indicate that Friday’s shooting is the second fatal act of family violence involving Cedric Garrett in Vicksburg.
On September 13, 2002, Garrett—then 16 years old—fatally stabbed his 20-year-old brother, Derrick Dewayne Maxey, at their shared residence at 1425 Oakland Street. According to contemporary reporting by The Vicksburg Post, the stabbing occurred during a domestic argument in which Garrett picked up a knife and struck Maxey once in the left side.
Emergency medical personnel transported Maxey by ambulance to River Region Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His body was subsequently sent to Pearl, Mississippi, for an autopsy.
The Vicksburg Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Friday’s apparent murder-suicide. Further details regarding the timeline of Val-Tricia Garrett’s death have not yet been released by officials.
News of Val-Tricia Garrett’s death has prompted widespread grief across Vicksburg, with friends, neighbors, and community members sharing tributes remembering her warmth and presence as “Ms. Val.”
Domestic Violence and Crisis Support Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or a mental health crisis, free and confidential support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
- Emergency Services: Call 911