An Illinois man allegedly shot his brother dead the night before Thanksgiving after being “whooped” by him, according to their mother. He also shot a woman before holding a family hostage at another place, according to police.
Jerome Curry, 38, is charged with murder and attempted murder for the Wednesday night incidents, among other felonies, after being detained following the purported hostage scenario, according to local NBC affiliate KSDK.
Curry’s brother, Terrence Curry, was slain inside a home in the 4900 block of Piggot Avenue in St. Clair County, while the hostage crisis occurred in the 2200 block of Birmingham Drive, about three miles away.
Cahokia Heights Police apparently arrived to the apartment where Terrence Curry was slain after receiving a report of a shooting. Officers saw a woman with gunshot wounds cowering behind a car in the center of the street, who told them what was going on, according to KSDK.
According to local Fox affiliate KTVI, witnesses informed cops that Jerome Curry “shot his brother” before fleeing in a car. About 30 minutes later, the Shiloh Police Department reported sighting a vehicle that reportedly matched the car’s description and followed it to the home on Birmingham Drive where the hostage scenario occurred.
When police arrived, Jerome Curry was reportedly inside the house, holding a family hostage with a revolver. Negotiators were successful in convincing him to release the family and surrender to cops without incident, according to KTVI.
Valerie Curry, the brothers’ mother, wrote about what allegedly transpired on Facebook, recounting the moments before Terrence Curry — whom she named in several posts, along with his brother — was killed.
“Terrence Curry loved you more than you loved yourself and didn’t deserve what happened to him,” she wrote. “He whooped your A— that day because you came over tripping real bad, but instead of taking that whooping you decided to shoot him.”
The bereaved mother confronted her living son, asking “how did this happen to you?” while simultaneously announcing that she was cutting him out of her life.
“You were talented, smart, had gifted hands, and could fix anything,” Valerie Curry said of Jerome Curry. “But within the last two weeks, you began worshipping demons, telling the world you were adopted, and turning against your family in the worst way. Terrence Curry loved you more than you loved yourself, and he did not deserve what happened to him.
Valerie Curry said, “Just know that as a result of your actions, there will be no jail/prison visits, no letters, no JPay deposits, NOTHING!! I’ve mentally erased you from the lineage. Coward, a punk—coward.”
In addition to murder and attempted murder, online court records reveal that Jerome Curry is charged with aggravated discharge of a handgun, aggravated battery, and having a weapon as a previously convicted criminal. He’s expected in court on Monday.
“Terrence Curry “I am so sorry,” Valerie Curry added, continuing to tag her deceased son on Facebook and sharing photographs of bullet holes inside the home where he was shot. “Home should have been a safe place for you, but that DEMON made sure he took that away from you.”
