Police do not know why a rural Morgan County man fatally shot five members of a family, including two young boys, but tried to help a surviving 6 year-old victim after shooting her multiple times.
Illinois State Police said around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday Rick Odell Smith, 43, forced his way through the back door of the family’s apartment in the 700 block of East Street.
Based on shell cases found at the crime scene, Smith used a shotgun fired at close range to kill an adult male, two adult females, an infant boy and a 5-year-old boy.
Two bodies were discovered in one bedroom, two more bodies were in a second bedroom and the adult male was in the hallway.
The 6-year-old girl suffered multiple gunshot wounds, but for reasons unknown Smith took her “out of the residence and put her in the hands of a neighbor,” said Illinois State Police Lt. Col. Todd Kilby. The girl was in critical condition Wednesday night at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the victims were: James “Roy” Ralston, 29; his girlfriend Brittney Luark, 23; her grandmother Joann Sinclair, 66; and two children, Nolan J. Ralston, 5, and Brantley J. Ralston, 1. A third child, Kassidy Ralston, is the surviving family member.
State Police said Smith and the victims were acquaintances, but he was not related to any of them. Investigators will now focus on possible motives for the shooting, which they did not know Wednesday.
The gunman also died of wounds he later suffered in an exchange of gunfire with police after he fled the murder scene in a white Chevy Lumina.
Law enforcement officials from the sheriff’s departments for Scott, Greene and Morgan counties responded around 7:15 a.m.
With the suspect on the loose, school districts in the area canceled classes Wednesday.
About 7:30 a.m. a pursuit ensued with Illinois State Police and Winchester City Police when they had the suspect in view about three miles east of Winchester at Ill. 106 and the Woodson-Winchester blacktop.
“Based upon preliminary investigation the offender exited his vehicle and pointed ... and discharged his firearm. The officers then returned fire, striking the offender,” Kilby said.
Smith was taken in critical condition to a Springfield hospital where he was pronounced dead about 10:10 a.m. Wednesday. Sangamon County Coroner Cinda Edwards said Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds.
A shotgun, a scoped rifle and a large hunting knife were located inside Smith’s vehicle.
No officers were injured and the matter remains under investigation.
“There is no reason to believe that there is any further danger to the communities or that there are any other suspects,” Kilby said.
Smith’s uncle is Manchester Village President Ron Drake.
Drake, in his capacity as the village’s fire chief, received a page about 4:45 a.m. concerning multiple victims at a residence one street over from his home.
Around 6 a.m. Drake learned his nephew was the shooter who police were seeking. Smith’s mother is the sister of Drake’s wife.
“It’s devastating,” Drake said. “The whole family is at my house right now and they’re all grieving and consoling and all of that. We’re just going to have to ask the Lord to help us and press on.”
He said his nephew was never married, but that he has a daughter. She is not the girl who was shot.
Drake also expressed his condolences for the victims. “I’m really sorry for everything that took place,” Drake said.
Drake said he did not know the victims. He had not spoken to his nephew in about two years so he did not know how Smith knew the victims or why he would want to kill them, Drake said.
Scott County State’s Attorney Michael Hill said Smith has had previous convictions for reckless homicide related to a DUI, possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and bad checks.
Retired teacher Cara Sue Crain said she taught Smith when he was in the first and second grades in Manchester.
“He had his problems in the past,” she said. When she last saw him about two years ago, he was employed cooking pizzas for a Roodhouse restaurant and “seemed quite normal at that time,” Crain said. “He was thrilled to be a dad. I am very sorry that whatever happened to him did happen and I am just devastated by the family that died.”
Illinois State Police said around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday Rick Odell Smith, 43, forced his way through the back door of the family’s apartment in the 700 block of East Street.
Based on shell cases found at the crime scene, Smith used a shotgun fired at close range to kill an adult male, two adult females, an infant boy and a 5-year-old boy.
Two bodies were discovered in one bedroom, two more bodies were in a second bedroom and the adult male was in the hallway.
The 6-year-old girl suffered multiple gunshot wounds, but for reasons unknown Smith took her “out of the residence and put her in the hands of a neighbor,” said Illinois State Police Lt. Col. Todd Kilby. The girl was in critical condition Wednesday night at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the victims were: James “Roy” Ralston, 29; his girlfriend Brittney Luark, 23; her grandmother Joann Sinclair, 66; and two children, Nolan J. Ralston, 5, and Brantley J. Ralston, 1. A third child, Kassidy Ralston, is the surviving family member.
State Police said Smith and the victims were acquaintances, but he was not related to any of them. Investigators will now focus on possible motives for the shooting, which they did not know Wednesday.
The gunman also died of wounds he later suffered in an exchange of gunfire with police after he fled the murder scene in a white Chevy Lumina.
Law enforcement officials from the sheriff’s departments for Scott, Greene and Morgan counties responded around 7:15 a.m.
With the suspect on the loose, school districts in the area canceled classes Wednesday.
About 7:30 a.m. a pursuit ensued with Illinois State Police and Winchester City Police when they had the suspect in view about three miles east of Winchester at Ill. 106 and the Woodson-Winchester blacktop.
“Based upon preliminary investigation the offender exited his vehicle and pointed ... and discharged his firearm. The officers then returned fire, striking the offender,” Kilby said.
Smith was taken in critical condition to a Springfield hospital where he was pronounced dead about 10:10 a.m. Wednesday. Sangamon County Coroner Cinda Edwards said Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds.
A shotgun, a scoped rifle and a large hunting knife were located inside Smith’s vehicle.
No officers were injured and the matter remains under investigation.
“There is no reason to believe that there is any further danger to the communities or that there are any other suspects,” Kilby said.
Smith’s uncle is Manchester Village President Ron Drake.
Drake, in his capacity as the village’s fire chief, received a page about 4:45 a.m. concerning multiple victims at a residence one street over from his home.
Around 6 a.m. Drake learned his nephew was the shooter who police were seeking. Smith’s mother is the sister of Drake’s wife.
“It’s devastating,” Drake said. “The whole family is at my house right now and they’re all grieving and consoling and all of that. We’re just going to have to ask the Lord to help us and press on.”
He said his nephew was never married, but that he has a daughter. She is not the girl who was shot.
Drake also expressed his condolences for the victims. “I’m really sorry for everything that took place,” Drake said.
Drake said he did not know the victims. He had not spoken to his nephew in about two years so he did not know how Smith knew the victims or why he would want to kill them, Drake said.
Scott County State’s Attorney Michael Hill said Smith has had previous convictions for reckless homicide related to a DUI, possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and bad checks.
Retired teacher Cara Sue Crain said she taught Smith when he was in the first and second grades in Manchester.
“He had his problems in the past,” she said. When she last saw him about two years ago, he was employed cooking pizzas for a Roodhouse restaurant and “seemed quite normal at that time,” Crain said. “He was thrilled to be a dad. I am very sorry that whatever happened to him did happen and I am just devastated by the family that died.”