MT. VERNON, IL (WSIL) � The Mt. Vernon Police Department continues its investigation into the motive as to why a teenager was shot and killed over the weekend in Mount Vernon.
“We're very confident in what happened,� said Mt. Vernon police chief Trent Page. “We're still investigating why it happened.�
A call came in Saturday afternoon just after 4 o'clock to the 9-11 call center. When officers arrived at the scene of the 1800 block of Lamar Street, they discovered one teen shot. They were taken to a local hospital where they were later pronounced dead.
“Upon our arrival, the officers observed a person with a handgun [a] male subject,� Page explained. “They were able to take him into custody and secure the firearm without incident.�
The mother of the deceased teen told News 3 her daughter's name is Julissa Mercedes Laslie, 16 of Mount Vernon.
Page says the area where the shooting happened is considered a high-crime area. He also noted that it’s not clear where the suspect got the gun or who owns it.
“It's not like a vehicle where you can just run it at the time, and the serial number to determine ownership,� Page explains.
“That’s something our detectives are looking into.�
Even though it’s unclear how the suspect got the gun, what isn’t in dispute is the fact it’s illegal for him to possess the gun at all.
“The person in possession of a gun that we arrested is illegally possessing it,� said Page. He’s under the age of 21, under the age of 18, so just the mere possession of him with a handgun is a violation of Illinois state law.�
I reached out to the state's attorney's office and they told me they couldn't talk about the case because it's currently in juvenile court. However, due to the circumstances, the case could be considered being moved to adult court.
“As [for] the offender, due to him being a juvenile, we cannot release that information,� said Page. “However, if he was to be charged as an adult later, that information could be made public at that time.�
Although the name of the suspect that's in custody is not being released to the public, Chief Page did say the suspect has a past criminal history including a charge of possession of firearms.
“The officers had a foot pursuit and ended up taking the same young man into custody,� said Page. “At that time he was in possession again of an illegal firearm and additional ammunition.�
Page goes on to say that the same suspect previously had an arrest for armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated battery charges.
"So he had been convicted within the Jefferson County courts and sentenced to a term of up to around seven to eight years,� said Page, “and eight months later, he's � out on the streets with an illegal firearm and we have a deceased juvenile.�
And Page says his department will continue to do their part to help bring justice to the family involved.
“we have a 16, 17-year-old victim who's now deprived of the rest of her life,� said Page. “And it can be very, very frustrating.�
Funeral services for Laslie have been scheduled. Visitation will be at the Newell Funeral Home on January 27, in Mount Vernon from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. The funeral ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. after visitation.
