On July 12, 2023, two young women were found shot to death in a vehicle in the rear parking lot of a building near Keller in the 2400 block of Washington Street, Waukegan, Illinois. The Lake County Medical Examiner identified them as 19-year-old Serenity Childs of North Chicago and 18-year-old Briana Ware Hall of Waukegan; autopsies confirmed both died from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers had responded to reports of shots fired at about 5:06 p.m. and the Major Crime Scene Unit recovered several 9mm spent casings and a 9mm handgun that was sent for testing.

Investigators identified 18-year-old Jonathan Stinnette of Winthrop Harbor as a suspect; authorities said he had a relationship with one of the victims and described the shooting as appearing domestic-related. Stinnette and a 21-year-old Waukegan resident fled north in a black Nissan and were apprehended in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Stinnette was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and held in the Kenosha County Jail pending extradition, while the 21-year-old was released pending further investigation. Local officials publicly condemned the killings and offered condolences to the victims’ families.

If anyone knew Serenity Childs or has information about the shooting or the events leading up to July 12, please come forward to investigators.