In the summer of 2026, a tragedy unfolded in East St. Louis, Illinois, claiming the life of 49-year-old Cherie May and several of her family members. The grim events began to come to light with the discovery of Cherie's body, who had been fatally shot days before the other killings. This initial investigation into her death led authorities to uncover a wider, more horrific series of events that had taken place across multiple locations in the city.
The investigation quickly revealed that Cherie was one of five family members who had lost their lives in a targeted attack. The other victims were identified as Patricia A. May, 74, Devin D. May, 20, Shania W. Thompson, 25, and Quentin L. Thompson, 21. Two other family members were also shot and sustained injuries. The alleged perpetrators were two teenagers, a 15-year-old girl who was related to the victims, and her 16-year-old boyfriend, Ja'ymeir Davis. The motive for the devastating rampage was reportedly the teenagers' anger with family members who disapproved of their relationship. They were arrested in a state park following the series of attacks.
Ja'ymeir Davis was charged as an adult with five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking, one count of dismembering a human body, and one count of unlawful use of a stolen firearm. The charge of dismembering a human body was in relation to an accusation that he had cut off the thumb of 74-year-old Patricia May. Prosecutors also sought to have the 15-year-old girl's case transferred to adult court. The community mourned the loss of the May and Thompson family members, remembering them for their love and kindness. A joint funeral service was held for Cherie, Patricia, and Devin May at the House of Prayer to All Nations Church, where family and friends gathered to honor their memory, focusing on the positive impact they had on those around them rather than the tragic circumstances of their deaths.
