On a Sunday evening in Centralia, Illinois, the life of 19-year-old Stephen McCary III was tragically cut short. On April 19, 2026, just after 5 p.m., gunfire erupted in the 900 block of East Kell Street. When Centralia police arrived at the scene, they found that McCary had been shot. He was quickly transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead by the Marion County Coroner.
Three other individuals were also injured in the shooting but were treated for their injuries and subsequently released.
The investigation into the shooting was swiftly taken over by the Illinois State Police at the request of the Centralia Police Department. Law enforcement agencies from neighboring cities and counties, including Marion, Clinton, Washington, and Jefferson County Sheriff's Departments, as well as officers from Salem, Nashville, Okawville, Central City, and Wamac, were called in to assist with the initial investigation and to help manage the crowd that had gathered after the incident. Investigators worked through the night, with portable light systems brought in by several fire departments to illuminate the crime scene. Authorities soon indicated that they believed the shooting was a targeted incident and that there was no ongoing risk to the general public.
Within a couple of days, the investigation led to a suspect. On April 21, 2026, Illinois State Police Special Agents arrested 21-year-old Shavonte D. Samuels of Centralia. Following the arrest, the case was presented to the Marion County State's Attorney, who filed a series of serious charges against Samuels. These charges included First Degree Murder for the death of Stephen McCary, two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder for the injuries sustained by Lorenzo Williams and Aaryanna Jackson, Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, four counts of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, and Felon in Possession of a Weapon. Samuels was taken into custody and is being held at the Marion County Jail, where he is awaiting a hearing to determine if he will be denied pretrial release.
