Two 16-year-old suspects are in custody following a "targeted mass shooting" in East St. Louis, Illinois, that resulted in the deaths of five family members and injuries to two others. Illinois State Police announced the arrests Sunday, though charges have not yet been filed.
The violence occurred at multiple locations in East St. Louis, including the Gompers public housing project and Jones Park, according to authorities. Police stated that there is no known ongoing threat to the public.
Officials described the incident as a "terrible, terrible act of violence." The motive for the shootings remains under investigation.
In a separate but related context, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has addressed the issue of violence, highlighting eight deaths and dozens of shootings in Chicago over a recent weekend. Blanche criticized Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for allegedly refusing federal assistance to combat crime, contrasting Chicago's situation with what he described as successful crime reduction efforts in Washington, D.C., and Memphis. He emphasized the necessity of local and federal cooperation to curb violence.