St. Clair County State’s Attorney charges two suspects after ISP investigation

By Editor | July 14, 2026 |

By Tribune Staff • Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) Special Agents arrested 16-year-old Ja’ymier Davis of East Saint Louis for five counts of First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony) and multiple other felonies. A 15-year-old female juvenile was also arrested.

On July 12, 2026, the East St. Louis Police Department requested PSEG assistance after human remains were discovered at the Samuel Gompers Homes. The victim was later identified as 49-year-old Cherie L. May of East St. Louis. A swift and thorough investigation identified four other deceased East St. Louis shooting victims, 25-year-old Shania W. Thompson, 24-year-old Devin May, 21-year-old Quentin L. Thompson, 74-year-old Patricia A. May at multiple locations in the city. The investigation also identified two other local victims injured in the shootings transported to local hospitals. The victims are all related to the female suspect.

On July 14, 2026, PSEG Agents presented the case to St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric, who approved five counts of First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony), two counts of Attempted First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony), two counts of Aggravated Battery (Class X felony), one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking (Class X felony), one count of Dismembering a Human Body, and one count of Unlawful Use of a Stolen Firearm (Class 2 Felony). Davis is charged as an adult and is being held at the St. Clair, County Jail pending his first court appearance.

A juvenile delinquency petition has been filed against the 15-year-old female including charges of first-degree murder. The St. Clair County State’s Attorney will request transfer of the juvenile case to adult criminal court in the near future. There is no further information available at this time.

The charge is not evidence against the defendant, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.