Man to serve life sentences in the shooting deaths of two people in Cahokia Heights

An East St. Louis man will serve two consecutive life sentences i n the fatal shootings of two men in Cahokia Heights in 2022.

Kevin B. Lipsey, 34, was sentenced this week by St. Clair County Circuit Judge Jeff Watson for killing Sean A. Johnson, 24, of Swansea and Dantez T. Ford, 21, of Cahokia Heights.

Johnson and Ford were pronounced deceased at the shooting scene on Brady Avenue in Cahokia Heights in June 2022.

Lipsey, who had been held in the St. Clair County Jail for nearly two years, faced mandatory life sentences because two individuals lost their lives in a single event.

The Major Case Squad of St. Louis investigated this double homicide, with assistance from the Cahokia Heights Police Department.

The investigation started as a missing persons case.

Cahokia Heights Police found Ford in a vehicle parked in the driveway of a home in the 4100 block of Brady Avenue and Johnson was found inside the home.

Lipsey was identified as a suspect through an investigation by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, with the assistance of Cahokia Heights Police and Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services, according to charging documents filed by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney Jim Gomric’s office.

At the time of his arrest, Lipsey’s bond was set at $2 million. The case was remanded to the grand jury on July 7, 2022.

A jury found Lipsey guilty on May 2.

“The success of this investigation and prosecution is attributable to every law enforcement officer, forensic scientist , deputy coroner, and assistant state’s attorney who committed their efforts to identifying this defendant and prosecuting the matter to a just outcome,” Gomric said in a statement. “The service of each of the individuals who contributed to this prosecution has served the people of Illinois by stopping Lipsy from committing any more acts of violence to members of the public and by sending a message of accountability” to others like him.

He also offered condolences to the victims’ families and thanked them for their participation.