Update to the shooting event at the St. Clair Square Mall that occurred on 01/20/2022.
Release from the Office of St. Clair County State’s Attorney, James A. Gomric
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Belleville, IL – January 21, 2022 – The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed charges
against three individuals involved in the shooting inside St. Clair Square Mall in Fairview Heights
yesterday afternoon.
Jeremiah Handy of East St. Louis, Ronnie Edmonds of Cahokia, and Andre Gillespie of East St.
Louis have each been charged for their conduct which brought about an exchange of gunfire in the
mall late on Thursday.
Handy has been charged with Aggravated Battery with a Firearm (Class X), Aggravated Discharge
of a Firearm (Class 1), Possession of a Firearm without Requisite Firearm Owner’s Identification
Card, (Class 3), Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4), and Obstructing Justice (Class
4). Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, the highest offense charged, is not probationable, and is
subject to Illinois Truth-in-Sentencing requiring any term of incarceration to be served at 85%.
Bond was set by the Court at $150,000. Handy remains in custody at the time of this release.
Edmonds has been charged with Obstructing Justice (Class 4), Aggravated Unlawful Use of a
Weapon (Class 4), and Possession of a Firearm without Requisite Firearm Owner’s Identification
Card, (Class 3). Bond was set by the Court at $75,000. Edmonds remains in custody at the time of
this release. As charged, Edmonds faces a non-probationable offense.
Gillespie has been charged with Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4), and Possession
of a Firearm without Requisite Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (Class 3). Bond was set by
the Court at $40,000. As charged, Gillespie faces a non-probationable offense. Gillespie remains
in custody at the time of this release.
The case was investigated by the Fairview Heights Police Department with assistance of
surrounding agencies. The case was charged for the State’s Attorney’s Office by Assistant State’s
Attorney Erin Conner.
“The actions of these three individuals will be vigorously prosecuted by my office. Violent acts
like this which put innocent bystanders at risk of serious harm will not be tolerated. We commend
the Fairview Heights Police Department and all assisting agencies for their quick response and
thorough investigation of this matter.”
Jeremiah Handy Ronnie Edmonds
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Members of the public are reminded that the criminal charges against any defendant are only an
allegation and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial
at which the prosecution has burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.