A homicide investigation is underway in Belleville after officers found a 78-year-old man dead Sunday morning on the 200 block of Union Avenue, and detectives later tracked down a person of interest across the river in St. Louis.
According to First Alert 4, officers were dispatched shortly after 11 a.m. When they arrived, responders provided aid to the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Belleville police detectives and the department's crime-scene unit processed the block and opened a homicide investigation.
Person of interest taken into custody
Working with St. Louis City officers, Belleville detectives located and arrested a person of interest in St. Louis. That individual is being held at a St. Louis precinct while investigators continue their work. "This is an active investigation," police told First Alert 4.
What happens next
Police have not released the names of the victim or the person in custody and said no charges had been announced. If prosecutors pursue charges, the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office would be responsible for filing any criminal counts in the case.
How to help investigators
Investigators are asking anyone with information or video from the area to contact the Belleville Police Department so detectives can follow up. Witnesses who may have relevant footage or tips are urged to reach out through the department's official channels.
