Andre Hutson, a 38-year-old African American male from St. Louis, was found dead on December 7, 2021, in Madison, Illinois. The Madison Police Department responded to a call around 11:48 p.m. reporting a shooting on Wayne Lanter Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered Hutson's body, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was immediately called in to investigate the incident, deploying 18 investigators to work on the case. They made significant progress in identifying leads and suspects responsible for Hutson's death.
The investigation revealed that Hutson was the victim of a planned robbery that escalated into a fatal shooting. Two suspects, William Jenkins and Larry D. Lovett, were identified and charged in connection with the crime. Jenkins, a 45-year-old male, was found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison, with 65 years for the murder charge and an additional 10 years for the armed robbery. Jenkins must serve all 65 years of the murder sentence and five years of the armed robbery sentence, ensuring he will remain in prison beyond the age of 100.
Larry D. Lovett, a 42-year-old male, was also found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. The charges stemmed from the attempted robbery and shooting death of Hutson. Lovett was convicted based on substantial evidence, including GPS data, DNA, surveillance video, and text messages between him and Jenkins. The court found that Lovett and Jenkins had planned the robbery and ambushed Hutson, shooting him with a 9mm firearm and a stun gun. Lovett faces up to 75 years in prison for the murder, up to 15 years for the attempted armed robbery, and up to 14 years for the weapon possession charge.
The verdicts in these cases were seen as a significant step towards justice for Andre Hutson and his family. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine commended the work of the prosecutors and law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, emphasizing that the convictions sent a clear message that violence would not be tolerated in Madison County. The community continues to mourn the loss of Andre Hutson, and his family hopes that the convictions will help them in their healing process.
