This article was originally published on Crafting Your Home. A human contributor also wrote and edited the post.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged as an adult after five members of an East St. Louis family were shot and killed at several locations across the city.
Prosecutors filed 12 felony counts against Ja’ymier Davis, including five counts of first-degree murder, two attempted murder counts and a charge of dismembering a human body. A 15-year-old girl who is related to the victims was also arrested and faces murder allegations in juvenile court.
The investigation began on July 12, 2026, after human remains were discovered at the Samuel Gompers Homes public housing complex. That discovery led Illinois State Police investigators to four other people who had been fatally shot, as well as two surviving victims who were taken to hospitals.
Authorities have described the violence as a targeted attack against one family rather than a random shooting that placed the wider public in immediate danger.
Prosecutors File 12 Felony Counts Against Davis
Davis faces five counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Patricia A. May, 74; Cherie L. May, 49; Shania W. Thompson, 25; Devin D. May, 24; and Quentin L. Thompson, 21. All five victims lived in East St. Louis and were related to the 15-year-old girl arrested alongside him.
The Illinois State Police said investigators found the victims at multiple locations after the first set of remains was reported.
The remaining charges against Davis include two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking. He also faces one count of unlawfully using a stolen firearm and one count of dismembering a human body.
St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric approved the charges after state police agents presented the findings from their investigation on July 14.
Court documents allege that Davis used a stolen 9mm handgun during the shootings and took a white 2015 Chevrolet Traverse by force or the threat of force. The attempted murder and aggravated battery charges involve two people who survived gunshot wounds, including one person allegedly shot in the neck and another allegedly shot in the back.
The charges are allegations, and Davis is presumed innocent unless his guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Shootings Allegedly Unfolded Over Several Days
Investigators believe the first fatal shooting occurred several days before the larger outbreak of violence that left the other four relatives dead. Court filings place Cherie May’s death sometime between July 5 and July 7, while Devin May and Patricia May were allegedly killed between July 11 and July 12.
Shania Thompson and Quentin Thompson were allegedly killed on July 12, the same day the two surviving victims were wounded.
The violence was connected to three locations in East St. Louis, including Jones Park and the Samuel Gompers Homes complex. Police have not released a complete public timeline showing how the suspects allegedly moved from one scene to another or the precise order of each shooting.
The discovery of Cherie May’s remains prompted investigators to search for additional evidence and eventually connect the separate scenes.
One of the most serious allegations involves the death of Patricia May, the oldest person killed in the attacks. Davis is accused of removing her right thumb after she was killed, which led prosecutors to file the dismemberment charge. Authorities have not publicly explained why the thumb was allegedly removed or disclosed any evidence suggesting what may have been done with it afterward.
The two teenagers were arrested on July 12 after Illinois State Police troopers stopped a vehicle at Frank Holten State Recreation Area. The arrests came as investigators were still examining the separate crime scenes and working to identify the victims.
No additional suspects have been announced, and authorities have not indicated that another person remains at large in connection with the killings.
Five Victims Belonged to the Same Family
The five people killed represented several generations of one East St. Louis family, with ages ranging from 21 to 74. Patricia May was the oldest victim, while Quentin Thompson was the youngest. The loss has left surviving relatives grieving several loved ones at once while also waiting for more answers about what led to the violence.
Marcus May, the father of the 15-year-old suspect, said the victims included his mother, his sister, his nephew, and two stepchildren. He also identified Davis as his daughter’s boyfriend and claimed the teenagers had discussed attacking relatives after his daughter became angry with members of the family.
Investigators and prosecutors have not adopted that account as an official motive, and the publicly released court documents do not explain what allegedly triggered the killings.
Two additional relatives survived the shootings but suffered serious injuries and required hospital treatment. The criminal complaint identifies them as Tiffany Thompson, who was allegedly shot in the neck, and Santosha Scott, who was allegedly shot in the back.
Authorities have not provided detailed public updates about their recovery or current medical conditions.
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly described the case as a targeted mass shooting because the victims belonged to the same family and the attacks occurred at connected locations.
Police said no unrelated bystanders were struck during the violence. Officials have also said the arrests removed any known continuing danger to the broader East St. Louis community.
Adult Case Begins as Juvenile Transfer Is Considered
Davis was placed directly into adult criminal court because he was 16 when the alleged first-degree murders occurred. Illinois law removes certain murder cases from juvenile jurisdiction when a defendant is at least 16 at the time of the alleged offense. Prosecutors have said they intend to seek his continued detention while the criminal case moves forward.
Davis appeared in court on the 12 charges and was ordered to remain in custody at the St. Clair County Jail. A public defender was appointed to represent him during the proceedings. No plea or detailed response to the allegations had been publicly announced at the time the charges were filed.
The 15-year-old girl’s case began with a juvenile delinquency petition that includes first-degree murder allegations. Her identity has not been publicly released because she does not meet the age requirement for an automatic transfer into adult court.
The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office plans to ask a judge to transfer her case to the adult criminal court.
That transfer request will require a separate court process before prosecutors can pursue adult charges against the younger suspect. Officials have not released the complete list of allegations contained in her juvenile petition or explained the role they believe she played in each death.
The Illinois State Police investigation remains active as prosecutors prepare the two cases and continue reviewing evidence collected from the shooting locations.
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