Crime & Safety
2 Teens Charged With Murder In IL Killing: Police
The teens were arrested last week and both face a charge of first-degree murder, police said.
WASHINGTON PARK, IL — Two Illinois teens were recently arrested and face murder charges in connection with a killing earlier this year, according to state police.
Brandon Bland Jr., 18, of East St. Louis, is charged with first-degree murder and Maliyah Lancaster, 19, of Washington Park, is charged with first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a machine gun or automatic weapon, police said.
The charges stem from the killing of Eric Swearengen, 22, of St. Louis, who came under gunfire around 10:20 p.m. Aug. 1 on North 46th Street in Washington Park, according to police. He was traveling with a passenger and tried to drive away but quickly crashed and died at the scene, police said.
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Bland was quickly identified in connection with the case and charged, while Lancaster wasn’t charged until Friday, according to police. Both were arrested on Thursday, police said.
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