Delain Q. Smith

Delain Q. Smith was killed around 12:35 a.m. in the 5500 block of Avon Place in Washington Park, Illinois State Police said. The killing set off a chain of subsequent events including a chase and shootout with police. Washington Park police officers later tried to stop a vehicle matching a description of the car used by the shooter and the car refused to stop, according to Illinois State Police. About two miles from the homicide scene, someone inside the fleeing car fired gunshots at the Washington Park police officer in pursuit near the intersection of 25th Street and Argonne Drive in East St. Louis. The officer returned fire. The officer was not injured, but Illinois State Police said investigators did not know if any of the occupants of the other car were struck. Police continued to follow the vehicle into St. Louis, but eventually ended the chase. At about 2 a.m., St. Louis police responded to a crash involving the car that fled police at Fourth Street and Convention Plaza downtown and took a man into custody.