BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Charges were issued Monday afternoon against a man arrested in connection to a fatal shooting in Belleville, Illinois, over the weekend.
The Belleville Police Department announced Monday afternoon that the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office issued charges of first-degree murder against 19-year-old Omarion Williams from East St. Louis for his suspected role in the shooting death of Aaron Metts on Oct. 7.
Police initially arrested Williams as a person of interest in the fatal shooting that resulted in Metts' death, the department said.
"The [Williams] was taken into custody by the St. Clair County/Belleville Special Response Team at a residence near the crime scene," the department said on its Facebook page.
Officers responded to the scene near the intersection of North 1st and West B streets around noon Saturday after guests at a downtown Belleville chili cook-off event heard several gunshots fired. When officers responded to the scene, they found Metts who had been shot several times.
Metts was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Officers did not provide any further information about him as of Monday afternoon.
Detectives and crime scene investigators were called to the scene to investigate.
The shooting was just two blocks away from the Belleville Chili Cook-off, which was ongoing at the time of the shooting in Belleville Public Square, but police said they did not believe it was related to the event. They also did not believe anyone at the event was in immediate danger.
Belleville police said Williams was taken to the St. Clair County Jail and held pending a detention hearing as of Monday afternoon.
This is a breaking news story. 5 On Your Side will update it as more information becomes available.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.