Latest news with #BellevilleNews-Democrat
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fairview Heights officer shooting suspect ‘should not have been free,' chief says
The shooting of three Fairview Heights police officers should be of 'extreme concern' for state lawmakers and judges, the city's police chief said. Elijah Thompson, who was charged with four counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting, was scheduled to have his 24-month probation sentence on a weapons charge expire on May 17 – the same day the Fairview Heights officers were shot. 'In my opinion, this bad guy should not have been free to roam the streets,' Chief Steve Johnson said in a video posted on police department's Facebook page. 'His past violent behavior and his freedom to be on the street with a loaded firearm should be of extreme concern to our legislators, the judiciary and the criminal justice system.' Johnson did not specifically say he wanted from state lawmakers and judges but he noted the Illinois Supreme Court 'has banned law enforcement from talking about the criminal history of defendants charged in a criminal case because it could unfairly taint the jury pool.' Johnson could not be reached for comment about what changes he wants in the criminal justice system. Fairview Heights Mayor Mark Kupsky, who spoke on the video before Johnson, declined during an interview to comment on the changes sought in the criminal justice system. Johnson said in the video statement that 'any citizen' can go to the St. Clair County website to see someone's criminal history. He urged viewers to 'educate yourself.' The Belleville News-Democrat last week published details about Thompson's criminal record that can be found only in public records that are not available on the county website. Thompson, 22, of the 300 block of North 10th Street in Belleville, was charged and later indicted with four counts of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated battery and one count of resisting arrest in connection with the shooting in Fairview Heights. Thompson's previous criminal records in St. Clair County include the following: ▪ On April 30, the office of St. Clair County State's Attorney Jim Gomric filed a petition seeking to revoke Thompson's probation and requesting he be imprisoned for multiple alleged violations of his probation. ▪ A grand jury declined to indict him on May 9 on an armed robbery charge and he was released from jail. He was accused of robbing money from a man in Belleville on April 16 while carrying a firearm, according to court records. No other details of the alleged robbery were listed in the warrant. ▪ Court records show Thompson was placed on probation for 24 months on May 17, 2023, exactly two years before the Fairview Heights officers were shot. The probation was ordered after Thompson pleaded guilty to a felony charge of carrying a firearm. A criminal complaint states he carried a Beretta pistol while at the Swansea MetroLink station on Nov. 23, 2021. ▪ Records filed on Nov. 30, 2023, allege Thompson committed the felony offense of unlawful possession of methamphetamine and the misdemeanor offense of resisting a police officer on Nov. 28, 2023. The charging documents allege Thompson ran from a police officer who had been holding Thompson's arm in an attempt to arrest him. ▪ On Dec. 1, 2023, Thompson was charged with unlawful possession of controlled substance, a felony, as well as misdemeanor offenses of resisting a peace officer and obstructing a peace officer. According to charging documents, Thompson possessed oxycodone, refused to be handcuffed by two officers and refused to provide his identification information on June 14, 2023. The April 30 petition to revoke Thompson's probation includes the pending drug and resisting charges as reasons why his probation should be revoked. Thompson has a status conference scheduled for June 16 on these charges. In his video statement, Johnson praised the officers who were shot and thanked all the other agencies and the community for their support since the shooting. He said the officers have a 'long road to recovery.' 'These guardians of the democracy saw the belly of the beast and came out alive,' Johnson said. 'They came face to face in close proximity with the red eyes … of the evil wolf and survived.' Officer Molly Muennich was hit in the face and was listed in critical but stable condition in Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis after the shooting. The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement last week that a bullet 'exited through her jaw and hit her carotid artery.' Kupsky said in an interview that Muennich remained hospitalized this week. Officer Herminio 'Tony' Raimundi was struck by gunfire in the arm and has been released from a hospital. He suffered a broken bone. Officer Andrew Ward was shot in the chest, but was spared serious injury due to the bullet-proof vest he was wearing. Charging documents allege Thompson used a Taurus GC3 9mm to shoot the Fairview Heights officers. Two other officers were injured in the struggle with Thompson. Thompson waived his right to a detention hearing and is being held in the St. Clair County Jail. In his video statement, Johnson revealed more details about the shooting on Potomac Drive than had previously been released. He said the officers had responded to a call about a 'suspicious person' who was 'lurking on the side of a house.' When officers confronted Thompson, they ordered him not to put his hands in his pockets. They then conducted a 'pat down' to see if he had any weapons on him. 'He immediately produced a semiautomatic firearm and began shooting at the officers,' Johnson said. The three officers struck by gunfire were hit 'in under just a few seconds.' 'Because of the close proximity, officers could not use their firearms in fear of striking another officer,' he said. Johnson noted Thompson was outside a home with a loaded firearm and a spare loaded magazine. 'His criminal and cowardly actions show he was only there for nefarious reasons. Without their bravery, it is unsure what would have happened inside that residence,' Johnson said of the officers.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
8 stories shaping education and resources in Belleville schools
Stories by Belleville News-Democrat journalists, with AI summarization Belleville schools are facing changes and challenges that shape education for students and staff. Federal funding remains vital, with districts using Title I and IDEA funds for staffing, technology, and resources to support students with disabilities and those from low-income families. Safety upgrades, like the Centegix Safety Platform and wearable panic buttons for teachers, are being introduced to help respond quickly to emergencies. Leadership changes are also underway in Districts 201 and 118. Meanwhile, rising property values are enabling districts to lower tax rates while planning facility improvements and maintaining essential services. The same system was used at Apalachee High School in Georgia, which law enforcement officials said likely saved lives. | Published October 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelly Smits 'I think in the 18 years I've been up here, that is the largest projected increase in our equalized assessed valuation,' one superintendent said. | Published November 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelly Smits 'I have nightmares about what's going to happen to my children,' an East St. Louis District 189 teacher said. | Published February 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Madison Lammert The move comes less than a month after hiring a new superintendent in place of departing Brian Mentzer. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Madison Lammert And is that money and the programs it supports at risk with the Trump administration's plan to disband the U.S. Department of Education? | Published April 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Madison Lammert 'She's always just had an amazing heart for kids,' Principal Monet Webster said of the new assistant principal. | Published April 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Madison Lammert The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2025 BND Voter Guide: Research candidates running in city, school & township elections
Welcome to the Belleville News-Democrat's 2025 Voter Guide for the April 1 election in Illinois. Dozens of candidates are on the ballot running for mayor, city council, village board, township and school board seats across the metro-east. The BND asked about 280 candidates in contested races to complete a detailed questionnaire so voters can learn more about their positions. You can find candidates' answers by clicking on the appropriate hyperlinked categories below: Belleville city and school board candidates O'Fallon, Shiloh and Swansea municipal candidates Municipal candidates in St. Clair County Municipal candidates in Madison and Clinton counties O'Fallon, Mascoutah and Millstadt school board races. Cahokia, Collinsville, East St. Louis, Freeburg, Grant and Highland school board races Metro-east township races The early voting period has started and runs until March 31. On Election Day, Tuesday, April 1, polls will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you have any questions or comments about the BND Voter Guide, email your message to Election2025@
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Three men charged in fatal Cahokia Heights double shooting
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mo. – Three men have been charged in connection to a double shooting in Cahokia Heights that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy. The shooting occurred Saturday evening on the 100 block of Lazarcheff Drive, where two 15-year-old boys were shot. One of the victims, Charles Jones, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, while the other was treated and released from the hospital. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office has charged the suspects, identified as 18-year-old Deontrez Mosley, 19-year-old Xavier Lacey, and 21-year-old Donte Jackson, with aggravated discharge of a firearm. DOGE says it has terminated leases of these St. Louis-area federal agencies In addition to the firearm charges, Mosley faces two counts of receiving and possessing a stolen vehicle. All three suspects are currently being held at the St. Clair County Jail. The Major Case Squad has been investigating the shooting since it occurred Saturday. Details about the motive for the shooting or further developments in the investigation have not been disclosed. All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
