A shooting on the evening of August 16, 2023, at 38th Street and Audubon Avenue in East St. Louis claimed the life of 20-year-old Jermaine Montez Bonner Jr. The gunfire, heard around 8:30 p.m., also wounded four other adults; Jermaine died about two hours after the shooting. Neighbors described the terrifying scene, with one resident saying the first noises were mistaken for firecrackers until the volume and intensity made clear something far worse was happening.

The shooting occurred close to homes and two elementary schools, though no students were present. The East St. Louis Police Department asked the Illinois State Police for assistance, and authorities encouraged anyone with tips to contact CrimeStoppers; witnesses can remain anonymous. Funeral services for Jermaine were held August 31, 2023, at New Jerusalem Seventh Day Adventist Church, with burial at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Fairview Heights. Local groups have pointed to this death as part of broader concerns about gun violence and have called for more resources to prevent similar tragedies.

Does anyone have information about the August 16 shooting or memories of Jermaine to share with investigators?