Surprising murder charge filed in East St. Louis shooting

KSDK -- A clerk opens fire during a robbery at an East St. Louis convenience store, killing one of the perpetrators, but it's the suspect's alleged accomplice who has been charged with murder.

The incident happened at the Quick Shop on Bond Avenue early Thursday morning.  Officials said at least six of the perpetrators took part in the crime, and one of them was shot and killed by the clerk, whom police said used his weapon legally. 

Late Friday, one of the deceased man's alleged accomplices was charged with first degree murder because Illinois law allows for a person who was involved in the commission of a felony to be convicted of murder if someone - anyone - is killed during the course of that felony.

"It's not used very often but as we have learned in the recent past, in St. Clair County, specifically in the general East St. Louis area, there has been a lot of violent activity and we are doing this, the law allows it and we are doing it as a measure to try to combat the violence that is occurring in East St. Louis," said St. Clair County State's Attorney Robert Haida.