EAST ST LOUIS — Five people were killed and two others wounded in a targeted mass shooting against a family in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Sunday. Illinois State Police described the incident as a coordinated attack that unfolded across three separate locations in the city.

The deceased victims were identified as Cherie L. May, 49; Devin D. May, 24; Patricia A. May, 74; Quentin L. Thompson, 21; and Shania W. Thompson, 25. Two teenagers, aged 15 and 16, were arrested in connection with the shootings and taken into custody at Holten State Park. According to state police, troopers stopped a vehicle and arrested the two teens, including one suspected of having a direct role in the shootings.

The shootings occurred at three locations in East St. Louis. Three people were shot and killed at the Samuel Gompers Homes in the 400 block of North 6th Street. One person was fatally shot at the intersection of 39th and Summit streets. One person was killed and two others were injured at Jones Park. No bystanders were injured in the attacks. The two wounded victims were transported to a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

At least one of the suspects is related to at least one of the victims, authorities said. The suspects have not been formally charged with a crime. Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly stated that there is no threat to the public following the arrests.

"These alleged acts of horrific violence, taking this number of lives, here in this community, it’s terrible, it’s evil, but it will not keep this city down," Kelly said. He added, "The progress we have made will not be lost."

Why It Matters

The shooting qualifies as a mass shooting under the Gun Violence Archive’s definition, which includes incidents where four or more people are killed or wounded. The Archive reported more than 240 such mass shootings across the U.S. in 2026 as of Monday morning, including at least 12 mass murders, seven of which fit the pattern of family annihilation. East St. Louis, a city with a population of approximately 17,500 to 18,000 residents, recorded 15 homicides in 2025 and 34 in 2020, reflecting persistent challenges with violent crime.

State and local firearm laws may also be relevant to the investigation. Illinois requires gun buyers to carry a firearm identification card, while neighboring Missouri does not require permits to buy or carry firearms. Missouri has no licensing system for firearms, does not regulate private firearm transfers or storage, and does not criminalize minors possessing handguns, shotguns, or rifles—though it remains illegal to sell firearms to minors without parental consent.