CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill — Two men and a woman, who is still on the run, have been charged with first-degree murder after a 21-year-old man was found dead in Cahokia Heights last Tuesday.
According to a press release from the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office charged Elijah Tillman, 22, Aliya Zeilman, 19, and Lavar Gilbert, 25, with first-degree murder.
Tillman, a Belleville resident, was arrested and is in custody at the St. Clair County Jail, according to the release. Gilbert, who is from Cahokia Heights, was also arrested and is in custody at the St. Louis County Jail.
Zeilman, who is also from Belleville, is not in custody and "is considered a fugitive."
At around 11:22 p.m. on April 5, police responded to the 400 block of North 73rd Street for a report of shots fired. When officers arrived, they found a car parked on Glenwood Avenue with a window that was hit by gunfire.
Police found a man inside the car suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police, a fight broke out between the victim, identified as 21-year-old Ralen T. Liverpool, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, and Tillman, which resulted in Liverpool's death.
The Cahokia Heights Police Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad, which was activated last Wednesday to help with the ongoing investigation. The Major Case Squad said multiple investigators are working on this case.
Anyone with additional information regarding the case or the location of Zeilman should contact Detective Jamal Jackson of the Cahokia Heights Police Department (618)332-4203 or Crimestoppers at (866)371-TIPS (8477).
Anyone with information on this incident can also call the Major Case Squad at 618-332-4260.
"The Major Case Squad of the Greater St. Louis would like to extend our condolences to the family members of Mr. Liverpool for his senseless and tragic death," Major Case said in the release.
