Two charged in killing of Alton man

ALTON - Authorities charged two men with first-degree murder Tuesday for the fatal shooting this weekend of Marvin A. Steward of Alton.

Both suspects, Rondell L. Perry, 21, of the 2500 block of Donald Avenue in Alton, and Larrius D. Metts, 22, of the 3600 block of Edwardsville Road in rural Edwardsville, are in police custody.

A judge set bond of $500,000 for each man.

The Madison County State's Attorney's Office did not charge a third suspect with an offense in the killing early Sunday in the 800 block of Silver Street, by Highland Avenue. Police had been seeking that man Monday for questioning.

Alton Police Chief Chris Sullivan said the men had been in a dispute with Steward, 23, of the 700 block of Oakwood Road, for some time, but would not disclose nature of the problem.

A car pulled up near where Steward was standing, with one of the occupants shooting him in the pelvis area at 1:47 a.m. The shot penetrated a femoral artery.

The shooter and passenger or passengers never left the vehicle, a Chrysler Sebring convertible, which sped off north on Silver. Police later stopped the car in Wood River, where the girlfriend of one of the suspect lives. She also is owner of the car.

An Alton police officer was patrolling nearby and immediately came to the scene of the gunfire, calling for paramedics and police backup. The officer, Pfc. Jason Cole, also took lifesaving measures on the victim.

Paramedics with the Alton Fire Department and LifeStar Ambulance Services Inc. subsequently arrived and treated Steward, with the ambulance taking him to Alton Memorial Hospital emergency room.

A physician then pronounced the victim dead.

Witnesses provided police with a vehicle description. After obtaining search warrants, authorities searched homes in Alton and Wood River and subsequently arrested Perry and Metts.

Perry is on parole from the Danville Correctional Center, where he was serving a three-year, six month sentence from 2006 on a conviction for aggravated fleeing police at more than 21 mph. He previously served prison time for another aggravated fleeing conviction and other terms for burglary and narcotics, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections Web site.

Metts had been charged with battery, domestic battery and traffic offenses in the past, according to Madison County records.

Steward also had a police record, including charges for vehicle burglary, two armed robberies, delivery of cannabis, domestic battery and criminal damage to property, county records show.