A 20-year-old man is dead and Belleville police are working a homicide case after a Sunday night shooting along the 5800 block of Belleville Crossing, authorities say. Officers found the man suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
In a post on its Facebook page, the Belleville Police Department said officers and EMS tried to provide first aid at the scene as witnesses pointed them toward a suspect vehicle that sped away. According to the department, that vehicle later crashed in the 6600 block of Old St. Louis Road. Two people allegedly ran from the wreck on foot, and both were taken into custody and are being held at the Belleville Police Department while detectives sort through what happened.
Investigation ongoing
The department called the case “active and ongoing” in its Facebook update, noting that several local agencies helped set up a perimeter while detectives processed the scene. Officers and Abbott EMS tried life-saving measures before the victim was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased, according to police.
Scene and arrests
Witnesses told police they saw a vehicle flee the shooting scene, a detail that investigators say led them to the crash site on Old St. Louis Road. After the wreck, two people allegedly bolted on foot but were quickly tracked down and arrested. Police say both are being held at the department as detectives continue to interview witnesses and gather evidence.
Local context
The killing comes on the heels of several recent shootings in Belleville. On March 1, a juvenile was killed in a Brookmeadow garage shooting, and in a separate incident a midnight home shooting left a 36-year-old dead. Together with Sunday’s homicide, those cases highlight a run of violent episodes in the city, according to local coverage.
How to contact police
Anyone with information about the Belleville Crossing homicide is urged to contact the department’s investigations division or the non-emergency line at 618-234-1212, per the Belleville Police Department website. Tipsters can also remain anonymous by using the department’s tip line or emailing the public information officer.
