Richard Jones

On the afternoon of March 28, 2020, a violent incident unfolded at a public housing complex in East St. Louis, a municipality directly across the river from St. Louis, Missouri. Law enforcement officials were alerted to gunfire at the John DeShields Housing Complex, located in the 1200 block of McCasland Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene shortly before 4:00 p.m., police discovered the body of 28-year-old Richard R. Jones lying on 11th Street. Jones, an African American male who resided in the area but was not a tenant of the complex itself, had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.

Emergency medical personnel transported Jones to Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville, where efforts to save his life proved unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead later that evening at 5:18 p.m. by the St. Clair County Coroner. The shooting prompted an immediate investigation by the East St. Louis Police Department, assisted by the Illinois State Police, as authorities worked to piece together the events leading up to the homicide. The initial inquiry revealed that the shooting had occurred in broad daylight, alarming residents and drawing significant attention from local public safety officials.

Following the collection of evidence and witness statements, investigators identified a suspect in connection with the slaying. Travion D. Johnson, a 31-year-old resident of East St. Louis, was taken into custody. Prosecutors allege that Johnson used a handgun to shoot Jones during the confrontation outside the housing complex.

A few days after the incident, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office formally charged Johnson with first-degree murder. At the time of the charges, Johnson was ordered held at the St. Clair County Jail on a $750,000 bond. The case highlighted ongoing concerns regarding violent crime in the Metro East region, with housing authority officials noting the tragic nature of the violence occurring on their property. Legal proceedings were initiated against Johnson as the family of Richard Jones mourned the loss of the young man.