Tony Townsend, a 41-year-old African American man from East St. Louis, Illinois, was shot and killed on July 11, 2020, about 7:25 a.m. He was found in a fenced-in lot at 1213 State Street. Townsend’s death was one of four homicides in East St. Louis over four days, July 9–12, 2020; the other victims were William Porter Jr., Hardy M. Burns, and Terrill D. Mason, each killed in separate incidents.

The Illinois State Police and the East St. Louis Police Department opened a joint investigation. Authorities said the four killings did not appear to be related and described Townsend’s case as an active homicide inquiry.

If anyone knew Tony Townsend or has information about activity near 1213 State Street on the morning of July 11, 2020, please come forward with details that might help investigators.