Alton teen killed in overnight shooting, SWAT raid follows in Oakwood
Detectives still following leads on person of interest
Sunken Press reporters stumbled into a SWAT raid midday on Friday, July 4 at the Oakwood Estates apartment complex in Alton. After posting photos from the scene on social media, we were made aware of a 2:00 a.m. shooting overnight in Oakwood resulting in the death of a teenage girl.
In a release the Alton Police Department (APD) sent Friday afternoon, these details were confirmed as the reason for the two-armored-truck SWAT raid that afternoon. The shooting took place in the 900 block of Oakwood.
Officers responded to the call overnight and discovered a 17-year-old girl suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. APD rendered aid until Alton Fire Department arrived. She was transported to a local hospital before being airlifted to St. Louis for further treatment. She died from those injuries in that hospital’s care.
APD’s Criminal Investigation Division was activated and is currently assisting in further investigations. Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit also responded to process the scene and officers from East Alton, Wood River, and Hartford police departments joined by officers from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Police Department and Madison County Sheriff’s Office to assist.
A person of interest has been announced in this case, but no names have been released.
“This is yet another senseless shooting with an innocent life lost,” Lieutenant Andrew Pierson said in a release. “The Alton Police Department sends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the victim.”
We could not agree more.
A search warrant to locate that person of interest was executed for a residence in Oakwood Estates. The Metro East SWAT team was activated and requested to assist alongside the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The person of interest was not located and efforts to find them continue.
The APD is requesting the community’s assistance with this case. Anyone with information relating to this is urged to call APD at 618-463-3505 ext 671. Anonymous tips can be left at 618-465-5948.
While we do not like most aspects of our nation’s criminal justice system, we join the APD in urging folks who know anything to call the APD with tips. Someone killed a child overnight, and that shit cannot stand in our community.
We will keep everyone updated on this developing situation including the hopeful arrest of the person who did this. We also hope the folks affected by this situation have community and mutual aid. If you are a part of the web of humanity negatively impacted by this child’s death, you are part of that mutual aid and community. Please seek out ways to help and notify us if there is anything we can do to help amplify community efforts. Our city mourns another loss today, and we can only hope justice and comfort find this situation and the folks who desperately need it.