Belleville man charged with murder in metro-east shooting death

A 61-year-old Belleville man was charged Thursday in the shooting death of a man in Washington Park.

Vincent E. Brown of the 300 block of North 49th Street, was charged by St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric’s office with murder/intent to kill/injure in the death of Leon Richardson.

Richardson, 67, was found shot to death Sunday in a housing pod for homeless people in Washington Park.

Richardson was pronounced dead at 2:14 p.m. in the 5000 block of North Park Drive , St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. said.

The charging document says Brown shot Richardson with a firearm, causing his death.

Brown is being held by police, the arrest warrant said.

Witnesses at the scene of the shooting told police they heard three gunshots around 11:57 a.m. behind Good Samaritan Ministries of the Metro East, Washington Park police said.

Washington Park handed the police investigation over to Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation.

Police have not released a motive.