GREENVILLE, Ill. — Illinois State Police are investigating a Thursday night homicide in Greenville, and a deadly crash in Madison County, which are thought to be related, though it's unclear how.
Shortly before 7:30 p.m., Illinois State Police responded to the 600 block of East South Avenue in Greenville for a report of a shooting. When troopers arrived, they found a 37-year-old woman dead. Bond County coroner Tony Brooks identified her as Laquita M. Sullivan, of Greenville.
A 33-year-old man who was in the area when the shooting happened was taken into custody. He was questioned and released after police determined he was not involved, police said. ISP had previously said the man barricaded himself in a home, but it turned out it was not him.
Just prior to the homicide, a red Dodge Challenger thought to be involved in a separate shooting fled the scene. Around 9 p.m., the car was spotted by police in Wood River, Illinois, where it failed to stop for officers.
Police began pursuing the car before it went off the road and overturned on Route 203 near Eagle Park Road.
A 25-year-old man from Greenville, who was driving the car, and a passenger, a 23-year-old man from Anna, Illinois, were both taken to an area hospital. The driver died from his injuries.
Hunkering down to protect her family from gunshots is something Billie Wortsell never imagined having to do.
She has lived in her home on East South Avenue in a close-knit Greenville neighborhood for nearly 20 years, next door to where the woman was found dead.
"Obviously you know we live in the world that we are and we see and we hear things but this is a community that has not really gone through that," Wortsell said.
Wortsell told 5 On Your Side that there had been growing issues at home for quite some time.
"We wasn't really surprised that something happened. We just didn't think it was going to be this bad,” she said.
Neighbors down the road were also shaken by the shots fired and heavy law enforcement.
"We're like we got to get out of here. We're not going to chance it all night. We're not going to sleep we're going to be scared all night," said Destinee Ulmer, a neighbor.
"I've lived here my entire life. I've never experienced anything like that or even that close around here so it was a little intense,” said Donovan Ruble, another neighbor.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 314-725-8477 (TIPS).
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.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to “stabilize inner-city neighborhoods.” One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
To learn more, call 314-381-8200 or visit https://www.betterfamilylife.org/
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.”
To learn more, call 314-327-6697 or email: ProjectLOV@WUSTL.edu
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership between and Saint Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
To learn more, visit https://www.ulstl.com/anti-crime-initiative.html
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities. To learn more, visit https://cvg.org/
