A 15-year-old girl and her boyfriend, Ja’ymier Davis, 16, have been charged in the shooting deaths of five relatives and the injury of two others across three locations in East St. Louis, Illinois. Prosecutors have labeled the incident a "targeted mass shooting."
According to the girl's father, Marcus May, the violence stemmed from a disagreement over her schooling. May stated that his daughter had been transitioned to homeschooling after experiencing trouble at her regular school. The father also mentioned that the teen had previously run away from home and taken her mother's debit card.
Authorities allege that early last week, the girl stole her mother's gun before leaving home again, prompting her mother to report her missing and the firearm as stolen. May claims his daughter had spoken of plans for a mass shooting, but these warnings were not taken seriously.
On Sunday, five relatives were found deceased. Among the victims were the girl's 74-year-old grandmother, Patricia May; her stepchildren Quentin Thompson, 21, and Shania Thompson, 25; her nephew Devin May, 24; and her sister Cherie May, 49. Marcus May described the loss as his entire family being taken "in one fell swoop."
Investigators found Shania Thompson's body in a car near May's residence, while Quentin Thompson was discovered in Jones Park. Two other victims were found at a housing complex several miles away. Cherie May's body was also recovered, though police indicated she may have been shot days prior to the main incident.
Two additional relatives sustained serious gunshot injuries in Jones Park. The indictment also states that Patricia May was allegedly dismembered, with her thumb severed.
The two teenage suspects were apprehended by Illinois State Police after a pursuit that ended in Frank Holten State Park. Davis faces multiple charges, including five counts of murder, dismemberment of a human body, two counts of attempted murder, and weapons charges. He is currently being held in St. Clair County Jail.
The girl's case is proceeding through the juvenile court system, with a potential for transfer to adult criminal court. Davis has no court date scheduled at this time.