The victims ranged in age from 21 to 74, while two other relatives remained hospitalized with serious injuries.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — Five members of an East St. Louis family were killed and two others were seriously injured in connected shootings across the city, a burst of violence that left investigators working at a housing complex, a home and a public park.
Illinois State Police identified those killed as Cherie L. May, 49; Devin D. May, 24; Patricia A. May, 74; Quentin L. Thompson, 21; and Shania W. Thompson, 25. Two teenage suspects were taken into custody Sunday, but authorities had not announced charges or identified a motive by early Monday.
The victims were found at three locations: the Samuel Gompers Homes public housing complex, an area near 39th Street and Summit Avenue, and Jones Park. Authorities classified the cases as one targeted mass shooting because all seven victims belonged to the same family and the crime scenes were linked.
Three people were killed at the Gompers complex. Another victim was found near the home on 39th Street, and a fifth was found at Jones Park. Two additional family members were wounded at the park and taken across the Mississippi River to a St. Louis hospital with serious injuries.
The shootings crossed residential and public spaces in East St. Louis, requiring investigators to process several scenes while determining the order in which the attacks occurred. Police said most of the violence appeared to have happened Sunday, though they were examining whether some of it began earlier.
Officials had not provided biographical information about those killed beyond their names, ages and East St. Louis residency. The identities of the two hospitalized victims were not released, and authorities did not give a more specific update on their medical conditions.
The two suspects, ages 15 and 16, were arrested at Frank Holten State Park. Police said the teenagers are related to each other. At least one suspect is also believed to have a family connection to at least one of the people who was killed, though investigators did not describe that relationship.
Authorities said the shootings appeared to have been directed at the family rather than carried out at random. Based on that assessment and the suspects’ arrests, police said they were not aware of a continuing danger to the wider public.
Investigators had not said what caused the violence or how the teenage suspects may have obtained firearms. They also had not disclosed how many weapons were found or whether ballistic and other evidence had connected particular weapons to each scene.
The case remained with Illinois State Police, which was working with local authorities and the St. Clair County state’s attorney’s office. Prosecutors had not announced whether the suspects would face charges or how any juvenile proceedings would be handled.
Author note: Last updated July 13, 2026.