Bruce Mason

A Belleville man has been charged in a double homicide last Friday in Cahokia Heights. The Major Case Squad said Shawn L. Williams, 54, was charged Wednesday with two counts of murder/intent to kill or injure. Wiliams is being held in the St. Clair County jail pending a detention hearing. Authorities say Williams fatally shot Bruce Mason, 67, of Maryville in the 3900 block of Walnut Street. Mason died at a hospital. As police investigated Mason's death and searched a nearby home, they found the body of Laniya Joyce White, 44, of East St. Louis, police said. She had been shot multiple times. Both victims had been shot in the head, court papers said. Police haven't released a motive for the Dec. 12 killings. Mason and White were acquaintances, police said. Mason was known to park his vehicle in White's driveway, police said. "We believe this was a targeted incident," Belleville police Capt. Robert Thomason said at a Monday press conference. Thomason led the team of investigators, including those with the Major Case Squad. Some 75 officers worked on the case. The squad announced the charges late Wednesday.