Fontez Forest, a 17-year-old from East St. Louis, Illinois, lost his life in a tragic shooting on the evening of December 23, 2025, in Cahokia Heights, leaving his family devastated just days before Christmas and less than a week before his 18th birthday. The young man had left his family’s home earlier that evening, taking an Uber to meet friends, when the violence unfolded around 7 p.m. in the 100 block of St. James Lane, just east of Route 3.
Cahokia Heights Police officers responded to reports of shots fired and discovered Fontez suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the driveway of a home, where he was pronounced dead at the scene from apparent gunshot injuries. Homicide detectives with the Cahokia Heights Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the circumstances, with no suspects or motive publicly identified as the inquiry continues.
The shooting occurred in a residential area of Cahokia Heights, a small community in St. Clair County near East St. Louis, where neighborhoods often reflect the close family ties common in the Metro East region. Fontez, who lived in the 3300 block of Converse Avenue in East St. Louis, had been raised in this interconnected area where young people frequently move between towns to visit friends and family.
His grandparents, Anthony Hawthorn and Lisa Hawthorne, shared their profound grief in conversations with local media, describing the moment their daughter called with the heartbreaking news and the rush to the crime scene where Anthony approached detectives seeking answers. The family expressed a desperate hope for justice and clarity, underscoring the pain of losing a teenager on the cusp of adulthood during the holiday season.
Fontez’s sudden death has left an immense void for those who knew him, as the community grapples with yet another young life taken by gun violence in a region that has seen too many such tragedies. While specific details about his education, personal interests, or daily life remain private in public reports, the focus rests on the deep familial love that surrounded him. His grandparents’ words reflect the raw emotion of a family now facing Christmas without their grandson, highlighting the human cost of senseless violence and the urgent need for answers that might bring some measure of peace.
Cahokia Heights Police continue to investigate the incident, urging anyone with information to contact them at (618) 337-9505. The case remains active, with hopes that community cooperation will help piece together what led to this fatal encounter in a driveway on a quiet winter evening. For Fontez’s loved ones, the holiday that should have been filled with anticipation now holds only sorrow and the difficult task of moving forward without him.
In the Metro East communities of East St. Louis and Cahokia Heights, where families often share deep roots and mutual support, this loss serves as a painful reminder of how fragile life can be for young people. The outpouring of shared grief reflects the interconnected nature of the area, where one family’s tragedy touches many. As the investigation unfolds, the emphasis remains on honoring Fontez’s memory and supporting those left behind during this heartbreaking time.
In remembering Fontez Forest, the community pays tribute to a young life cut short—one filled with the promise of tomorrow and the everyday connections that make family and friendship so precious. His story calls for compassion toward grieving relatives and a collective resolve to foster safer spaces for the next generation. May his family find strength in the love they shared and the memories that endure.
