An Illinois teenager, Ja’ymier Davis, 16, faces five murder charges in connection with the deaths of his girlfriend's family members, including disturbing text messages exchanged with his 15-year-old girlfriend. Prosecutors allege the couple carried out the attack, which reportedly stemmed from the girl's parents’ decision to homeschool her.
During a court hearing, evidence presented included Instagram exchanges between Davis and his girlfriend. In one alleged message, Davis wrote, "Well, your auntie is going to be easy. We can have her at gunpoint and stab her [expletive]." Prosecutors claim the girl responded, "I can do that, I love blood," and added, "Babe, I’m finna lose my whole family for you."
Among the deceased were the girl's cousin, Devin May, 24; step-siblings Quentin Thompson, 21, and Shania Thompson, 25; grandmother Patricia May, 74; and aunt Cherie May, 49. Two other family members, Tiffany Thompson and Santosha Scott, were shot but survived the incident.
According to WLS, Lamarian Smiley, the husband of one survivor, suggested the killings were motivated by the couple's desire to be together and eliminate opposition. He stated that the couple had created a list on Instagram and that the family was aware of a potential threat but not its timing.
Authorities allege the couple attacked victims at multiple locations in East St. Louis. Davis reportedly admitted that his girlfriend personally shot and stabbed her aunt, Cherie May. The body of Cherie May was discovered behind a dumpster at the Samuel Gompers Housing Development, with investigators believing she was killed days prior to the main attack.
Prosecutors detailed that after Cherie May’s death, Devin May and the grandmother, Patricia May, were targeted when they went to check on her. Patricia May was allegedly waiting in the car while Devin May went upstairs, where he confronted Davis and his girlfriend. Davis is accused of shooting Devin May in the head. The girlfriend then allegedly lured Patricia May outside, where Davis was hiding and fatally shot her in the head.
New court documents indicate that Davis allegedly cut off the grandmother's thumb after the attack. Investigators reportedly recovered the severed finger from the center console of Davis' car, with prosecutors claiming it was used to access her phone.
Davis initially claimed self-defense but later admitted to the crimes, according to Fox 2 St. Louis. His attorney, however, maintained that Davis was acting in self-defense and was not the aggressor.
Davis is charged with murder, dismembering a human body, attempted murder, aggravated battery, aggravated vehicular hijacking, and unlawful use of a stolen firearm. He is set to be tried as an adult. The 15-year-old girl remains in juvenile court custody, with prosecutors seeking to move her case to adult court.
Marcus May, the girl's father, expressed devastation and noted concerning behavior in the months leading up to the incident. He stated that he had been warned his daughter had run away and stolen her mother's gun. The decision to homeschool her, made by him and her mother due to her repeated trouble at school, reportedly angered her. He also mentioned that his ex-partner warned him about a disturbing group chat where his daughter and her boyfriend allegedly discussed killing family members, a threat he admitted he did not take seriously at the time.
Marcus May said his daughter’s behavior escalated until she stole the gun. He also stated he contacted Davis' parents and urged them to keep their son away from his daughter. The girl's mother reported her missing and alerted police about the stolen gun, but no contact was made for days.
"I lost my whole family in one fell swoop," Marcus May told WLS, expressing disbelief that his daughter would allegedly kill her family members and stating he could not show her sympathy.