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Two Teens Arrested and Charged After Multi‑Site Killings of Five Relatives in East St. Louis

Prosecutors have charged the 16‑year‑old as an adult while seeking adult transfer for the 15‑year‑old as investigators continue forensic work.

Overview

  • State police say seven members of a single family were shot at three locations in East St. Louis, killing five people and seriously wounding two others in what officials describe as a targeted attack.
  • Troopers arrested a 15‑year‑old girl and her 16‑year‑old boyfriend after using a PIT maneuver to stop their vehicle at Frank Holten State Park on Sunday; both remain in custody.
  • St. Clair County prosecutors charged 16‑year‑old Ja’ymier Davis as an adult on multiple counts including five counts of first‑degree murder and a count alleging dismemberment, and they filed a juvenile petition for the 15‑year‑old with a request to transfer her case to adult court.
  • Family members have told reporters the couple plotted the attack to remove relatives who opposed their relationship and posted a purported 'list' on social media, a claim investigators are examining alongside physical and forensic evidence.
  • Investigators expanded the probe after human remains were found at the Samuel Gompers Homes; authorities say forensic processing and interviews are ongoing and there is no known continuing threat to the public.