19-year-old Mounds, Ill., man killed in Cairo shooting

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo police are investigating a homicide that occurred early Thursday morning outside Mary J's Lounge in the 400 block of Commercial Street.

Jeserick Pilgram, 19, of Mounds, Ill., was shot to death after 2 a.m., according to Cairo police chief Timothy Brown.

A second victim, Tyrone Watson, 30, of Cairo was shot in the lower left calf and taken by helicopter to a Cape Girardeau hospital, said Lt. Gary Hankins of the Cairo Police Department. Watson was in stable condition Thursday evening.

Police responded to a report of shots fired near the intersection of Fourth and Commercial streets about 2:30 a.m. and found 75 to 100 people gathered there.

"Pretty much it was chaos," Brown said. "People were yelling and screaming who was shot and how many people was shot. We were just trying to find the victims."

Police cordoned off a large area around the scene of a fatal Thursday morning shooting in Cairo while an investigation of the incident continues. (Melissa Miller)

Police interviewed witnesses but would not comment on a possible motive and would not release a description of any suspects.

The victims did know each other, according to police, and were patrons of Mary J's. However, the shooting did not occur inside the bar.

Police said shots were fired in the street from what they believe to be handguns. Two vehicles near the scene were hit by stray bullets, Hankins said. Police don't believe shots were fired from a vehicle.

"We believe there were events leading up to this, but we haven't determined exactly what those are," Hankins said.

The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigation Unit collected evidence at the scene throughout the day Thursday.

Alexander County Coroner Willy Bingham said an autopsy on Pilgram was performed Thursday afternoon. Details from the autopsy had not yet been released and police would not comment on Pilgram's injuries.

Cairo police ask anyone with information about the incident to call 618-734-2131.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

409 Commercial St., Cairo, IL