ALTON, Ill. (TCD) — Five people, including four teenagers, are being charged with first-degree murder after a 13-year-old girl was shot in the head and later died from her injuries.
According to Madison County State’s Attorney Matt Haine, Ra’niya Steward was shot Feb. 3 on the 900 block of Highland Avenue in what he called “senseless violence.” Steward was taken to a hospital in St. Louis in critical condition, where she remained until she died from her injuries on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Haine “expects evidence to show that she was not an intended target.”
Two 19-year-olds, Alvin Perry III and Raysean Colvin, were arrested on Feb. 7 and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, and aggravated unlawful use of weapons. Colvin is also being charged with unlawful sale or delivery of firearms.
On Feb. 10, the state’s attorney’s office announced a third suspect, 24-year-old Keith Sanders, was taken into custody on charges of attempted first-degree murder, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and aggravated battery with a firearm. The statement alleges Sanders “encouraged a minor to become delinquent ‘by advising the minor of the presence of a particular individual at a specification location, knowing that information would cause the minor to act in a violent manner.'”
The statement alleges Sanders, or a minor he is responsible for, fired the gun that ultimately killed Steward.
Following Steward’s death on Feb. 13, the state’s attorney’s office upgraded the charges from attempted first-degree murder to first-degree murder. In addition, Vito Crowder and Dakota Perry, both 16, were charged with first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful use of weapons. Haine said the murder charges filed against Crowder and Perry make them automatically eligible to be tried as adults.
Sanders, Alvin Perry, and Colvin are in custody, but Dakota Perry and Crowder have not been caught yet.
According to court documents cited by the Alton Telegraph, Sanders allegedly told the minors that a “rival faction of individuals were at a specific location,” so they needed to bring guns to “attempt an armed robbery, shoot at, or attempt to scare the rival faction of individuals.”
They allegedly were targeting a juvenile and a 19-year-old who has a criminal record.
Alvin Perry reportedly took Crowder and Dakota Perry to the house on Long Street “with the intent that they would discharge a firearm.” After the shooting, Sanders allegedly drove them back to his home. Colvin reportedly gave the gun to the minors.
Haine said in the statement, “This case is beyond tragic. The life of a beautiful young girl has been lost, and our community is hurting. Ra’niya, her family and her loved ones remain in our prayers.”
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