NEWTOWN, Conn. – Five members of the same family were killed in what law enforcement has described as a “targeted mass shooting” in East St. Louis, Illinois. The deceased victims range in age from 21 to 74 years old. Two other people were wounded.
The attacks occurred at several locations in East St. Louis on Sunday. Two teens aged 15 and 16 have been arrested, one of whom is suspected of having direct involvement in the shootings and may have a family connection to the victims. A motive for the attacks is still being investigated.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 12 mass shootings in Illinois since the start of 2026 in which four or more people were injured or killed, excluding the shooter. The state has the 10th highest overall gun homicide rate in the country based on the most recent available finalized data from CDC.
In response, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“The tragic news out of East St. Louis is heartbreaking. A single family, spanning generations, has been completely shattered. Five lives were brutally stolen, and two more individuals were left wounded in attacks that should have been prevented. No family should ever have to endure such profound loss, and our hearts are heavy as we stand with this community as they grieve and begin the long process of healing.
“While law enforcement continues to investigate the motive, we must confront the awful fact that the suspects in custody are teenagers – children themselves, aged 15 and 16. When young people turn to violence, it is a stark reminder that prevention requires us to recognize warning signs, create pathways to help, and intervene before a crisis turns into tragedy. We encourage law enforcement to investigate what kinds of warning signs may have been a factor leading up to these attacks, and how these teens were able to access firearms.
“When we recognize the warning signs of potential violence and get help, we can intervene. The secure storage of firearms is also proven to save lives by keeping weapons out of the hands of children and unauthorized users.
“We urge every community leader, lawmaker, and citizen to join us in prioritizing prevention. We must work together to build a future where our homes, schools, and streets are safe, and where no more families are torn apart by gun violence.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, and information about life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279