16-year-old girl dies in shooting, 16-year-old boy arrested

MT. VERNON, Ill. (KBSI) – A 16-year-old girl died after being shot and a 16-year-old boy was arrested in Mt. Vernon Saturday.

The Mt. Vernon Police Department Dispatch Center received a 911 call around 4:11 p.m. on Saturday, January 13 with screaming but no information as to what was happening.

Officers were dispatched to a home in the 1800 block of Lamar.

When officers arrived, they determined a 16-year-old resident had been shot.

Arriving officers also encountered a 16-year-old male holding a handgun.

Officers arrested a 16 year old male and secured the firearm.

Medical personnel from the Mt. Vernon Fire Department and Litton’s Ambulance Service also responded.

Additional officers were called in to work with members of the detective division and a crime scene technician.

The home was processed and witnesses from inside the home interviewed.

The 16-year-old female was taken to a local hospital where she was later declared dead.

The 16-year-old male was taken to the Mt. Vernon Police Department for processing.

After consulting with the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office, the 16 year old male will be detained on preliminary charges of armed violence/discharge a firearm, aggravated battery with a firearm, involuntary manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm by person under 18.

Charges may be amended by the States Attorney’s Office as the investigation progresses.

The Mt. Vernon Police Department arrested the 16-year-old male suspect at the end of April in 2023. On that occasion, a dispatcher from the Mt. Vernon Police Department saw the teen with a handgun and notified officers. Officers responded and tried to make contact with him, but he ran from officers. He was apprehended following a foot chase.

Officers found he was in possession of a loaded firearm and had additional ammunition on him. The 16 year old was detained in a juvenile justice facility on charges of armed violence, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest.

He was on parole at the time the shooting on Saturday.

The Illinois Department of Corrections was notified of this arrest and may issue a parole violation warrant.

Prior to the arrest in April of 2023, the teen had been arrested by the Mt. Vernon Police Department for armed robbery for one incident and aggravated battery in a different one.