On December 23, 2025, the life of 17‑year‑old Fontez Forest of East St. Louis, Illinois, was cut short in Cahokia Heights. His death, occurring only days before Christmas and a week shy of his eighteenth birthday, has left his family immersed in grief. That evening, he had departed his home by Uber to meet friends, but at approximately 7 p.m. violence erupted along St. James Lane, just east of Route 3, ending his journey in tragedy.
Responding officers from the Cahokia Heights Police Department arrived after reports of gunfire and found Forest lying in the driveway of a residence with multiple wounds. Despite immediate intervention, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Homicide detectives initiated a formal inquiry, though no suspects or motive have yet been disclosed, leaving the circumstances unresolved.
The incident unfolded in a residential section of Cahokia Heights, a community within St. Clair County adjacent to East St. Louis. The area is characterized by strong kinship networks typical of the Metro East region, where families and young people often move fluidly between towns to maintain social ties. Forest, who lived on Converse Avenue in East St. Louis, was raised within this interconnected environment, making his loss resonate across multiple neighborhoods.
His grandparents, Anthony and Lisa Hawthorn, spoke publicly of their anguish, recounting the moment they received the devastating call and their rush to the crime scene. Anthony described approaching detectives in search of answers, while the family collectively voiced their hope for justice. Their grief is intensified by the timing—losing a teenager poised to enter adulthood during a season traditionally associated with joy and family gatherings.
Forest’s death has created a profound void, emblematic of the toll gun violence continues to exact on the region. Although details of his schooling, interests, and daily routines remain private, accounts emphasize the love and support that surrounded him. His grandparents’ reflections capture the raw pain of facing Christmas without their grandson, underscoring both the human cost of violence and the urgent need for resolution.
The Cahokia Heights Police Department has urged community members to assist in the investigation, providing contact information for tips as detectives work to reconstruct the events of that evening. The case remains active, with authorities emphasizing that cooperation is essential to uncovering what led to the fatal encounter. For his family, the holiday season now carries the weight of mourning rather than anticipation, as they confront the challenge of continuing without him.
In Metro East communities such as East St. Louis and Cahokia Heights, where familial bonds and collective identity run deep, Forest’s death has reverberated widely. The shared grief illustrates the interconnectedness of the region, where one family’s tragedy becomes a communal wound. As the investigation proceeds, attention remains focused on honoring his memory and supporting those left behind.