Five members of the same family were gunned down across three locations in East St. Louis, yet police say they still do not know why.
Story Snapshot
- Five relatives killed and two wounded in what police call a targeted mass shooting against one family.
- Two teens, just 15 and 16 years old, are in custody but have not yet been formally charged.
- Investigators say at least one suspect is related to at least one victim, but the exact motive remains unknown.
- The case highlights deep mistrust as media, officials, and locals clash over labels like “mass shooting” and “one-off.”
What Police Say Happened To This East St. Louis Family
Illinois State Police say seven members of the same family were shot on Sunday in East St. Louis, Illinois, with five killed and two seriously hurt. The attacks took place at three different spots in the city: a home near 39th and Summit, the Gompers public housing complex, and Jones Park. Officials say the victims were all from East St. Louis and ranged in age from 21 to 74. Police describe the shootings as a targeted mass attack against one family, not random violence.
State police have named the five people killed as Patricia May, age 74; Cherie May, 49; Devin May, 24; Quentin Thompson, 21; and Shania Thompson, 25. Two other relatives were taken to a hospital in St. Louis with serious injuries. Troopers later stopped a vehicle and arrested two teenagers, ages 15 and 16, at a nearby state park after the shootings. Investigators say “at least one suspect is related to at least one victim,” confirming a family link but not the full picture.
Teens In Custody, But Motive Still Officially “Unknown”
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly has been clear on one point so far: there is no known motive yet. He told reporters the investigation “remains fluid” and “active,” and stressed that “no one’s been charged yet” even though the teens have been held for more than a day. He said officers and special agents are still putting the pieces together and promised more details once they can be sure of them. He also said there is “no current threat to the public,” easing fears of more attacks.
East St. Louis Police Chief Kendall Perry backed the idea that this was targeted, but admitted he does not yet know why it happened. He said, “They had a target. I don’t know what their motive was, but they weren’t shooting just randomly.” So far, police have not shared how the teens got the guns, what kind of weapons were used, or the exact order of events across the three crime scenes. Juvenile privacy laws also limit what can be said publicly about the two suspects, slowing answers for a shaken community.
Media Labels, Local Doubts, And Growing Public Frustration
Television stations, websites, and social media posts have all pushed the phrase “targeted mass shooting” in headlines about this case. That language matches how police describe it, but motive is still unknown and key facts remain sealed. Some city leaders are already worried that the “mass shooting” label may mislead people. East St. Louis City Council member Courtney Hoffman has called the incident a “one-off” family event, pushing back on wider mass shooting framing. These mixed messages feed confusion and distrust.
Family members of the victims are speaking out, which adds strong emotions and pressure on investigators. Marcus May, the father of the 15-year-old suspect, has said publicly that his daughter killed her grandmother, Patricia May. That claim shapes public opinion before any trial or full report. At the same time, national research shows over half of American mass shootings between 2009 and 2016 involved domestic or family violence, so people quickly assume family conflict is the cause. But in many cases, real motives only become clear later, after full forensic work and sworn testimony.
What This Case Reveals About Violence, Youth, And A Strained System
This tragedy hits a city that already struggles with gun violence in poor neighborhoods, a pattern seen across many American cities. Studies find mass shootings often happen in places with high poverty, blighted buildings, and few green spaces, places where people already feel forgotten by leaders. That reality matches what many on both the right and the left feel today: that the federal government and political “elites” talk about crime but do little to fix the deeper causes. Families like the Mays and Thompsons end up paying the price.
Five members of one family were killed and two others wounded in what Illinois State Police are calling a “targeted mass shooting” across three East St. Louis locations over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/EMaCWh7a0U
— Rich Music World INC (@richmusicworld) July 15, 2026
For older conservatives, this case may look like one more sign of broken families, weak accountability, and a justice system that moves too slowly when lives are taken. For older liberals, it may highlight how young people in hard-hit neighborhoods see few options, how support systems fail, and how gun access stays easy while social programs stay limited. Both sides can agree on this: five relatives from one family should not die in a single day while basic questions—why this happened, how teens got guns, what will change—remain unanswered.
Sources:
foxnews.com, bnd.com, cbsnews.com, youtube.com, abcnews.go.com