Man charged in Belleville double homicide was already facing multiple weapons charges

A man was charged in connection with a double homicide , in which he allegedly rammed his vehicle into a Belleville home, killing a 35-year-old mother and her young daughter, then setting off a multi-agency manhunt Sunday.

Matthew K. Thomas, 23, of Belleville, was charged by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney on Tuesday with two counts of murder with intent to kill or injure.

Thomas already was facing multiple felony weapons charges in St. Clair County. He bonded out of jail in June of 2023 on a single charge of unlawful use of a weapon. Then in March, he was charged and released from custody on three counts of possessing a weapon with a revoked Firearms Owner ID.

The most recent charges came Tuesday in connection with the deaths of Shavonne Green, 35, and her daughter, 4-year-old Torianna Bohanna. Both were pronounced dead at the scene in the 100 block of South Eighth Street Sunday at 11:44 a.m., according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.

According to Belleville police, Thomas intentionally drove his 2009 Honda Civic into the two-story home shortly after 9 a.m., setting the home on fire. One juvenile, whose identity was not released, was rescued from the burning building, according to police.

Thomas, meanwhile, fled the scene on foot armed with a machete, prompting police to issue a Code Red and warn residents of the neighborhood around Citizens Park to stay inside and lock their doors.

“Officers have reason to believe (the) actions were intentional,” Belleville police stated in a release Sunday. “This is being investigated as a double homicide.”

Illinois State Police and other agencies were involved in the manhunt and officers saw Thomas enter a wooded area along the railroad tracks near 29th Street and Otto Drive. He was later spotted near the Dollar Tree at 5831 Belleville Crossing and was captured shortly thereafter, police later said.

Belleville Police Lt. Col. Mark Heffernan said the case was presented to State Attorney James Gomric’s office on Monday. Thomas will be transported from the Belleville Police Department to the St. Clair County Jail.