EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A tragic scene unfolded early Wednesday morning in East St. Louis, where a triple shooting outside “Da Blitz Sports Bar and Grill” left two men dead and a woman injured.
The incident occurred around 2 a.m. when a barrage of gunfire rang out near Ninth Street and Exchange Avenue, close to the Interstate 55 and 70 interchange.
According to the Illinois State Police, East St. Louis police initially responded to the shooting, then called for assistance from state authorities. There were around 40 evidence markers and a damaged SUV with shattered windows and a flat tire.
This incident comes just days before the scheduled Stop the Violence Parade scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, a community event aimed at promoting peace and unity in East St. Louis.
“We’re gonna be having tents set up out here. We’re gonna be having a back to school giveaway for the kids, free food, this whole thing will be packed. It’s a whole lot of entities and organizations that put in on this effort to make this thing happen for the kids and the city,” Alfred Reeves, founder of the 618 Movement and Stop the Violence Parade, said.
Reeves emphasized the urgent need for community centers and youth programs as positive outlets to combat violence.
“What we’re trying to do at the 618 movement is trying to reach out to some of these young people and see what we can do to change some of the dynamics of the things and their mindset for what they’re doing,” he said. “It can be changed. We have to be able to give these kids something else to do. We don’t have no community centers no more around here. They don’t have nothing.”
If you would like to donate or support the Stop the Violence Parade on Saturday, call (618) 709-1654.
At this time, authorities have not stated the current condition of the female victim. No names or ages of the victims have been released and there is no information on potential suspects.
