BELLEVILLE, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
Three days after a Centreville police officer is murdered, the suspect, 22 year old Lemuel Houston of Alorton, in that death makes his first court appearance on first degree murder charges. The case was handled quickly by the Major Case Squad and charges were issued late Thursday.
Houston made his first appearance in court Friday morning in Belleville. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Centerville Police Lieutenant Greg Jonas and is being held on ten-million-dollars bond. Lieutenant Jonas was shot early Tuesday morning after approaching Houston in a public housing complex. Jonas was found lying on the ground near his police cruiser. He had been shot in the head and died shortly after help arrived.
Houston told Major Case investigators that he was carrying a gun when Lt. Jonas approached him on the street. He knew that could mean a gun charge against him. So he allegedly shot the Jonas in an attempt to avoid jail time.
Funeral arrangements for Lt. Jonas are set for Saturday with visitation starting at 9am and the funeral at noon at Calvary Baptist Church in Centreville. On Sunday at 3pm, the village of Centreville will remember LT. Jonas during a candlelight vigil at the scene of the shooting.
Houston made his first appearance in court Friday morning in Belleville. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Centerville Police Lieutenant Greg Jonas and is being held on ten-million-dollars bond. Lieutenant Jonas was shot early Tuesday morning after approaching Houston in a public housing complex. Jonas was found lying on the ground near his police cruiser. He had been shot in the head and died shortly after help arrived.
Houston told Major Case investigators that he was carrying a gun when Lt. Jonas approached him on the street. He knew that could mean a gun charge against him. So he allegedly shot the Jonas in an attempt to avoid jail time.
Funeral arrangements for Lt. Jonas are set for Saturday with visitation starting at 9am and the funeral at noon at Calvary Baptist Church in Centreville. On Sunday at 3pm, the village of Centreville will remember LT. Jonas during a candlelight vigil at the scene of the shooting.
