{
    "title": "ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ARRESTS SWANSEA WOMAN FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-05 21:50:56",
    "published_at": "2026-06-05 21:51:00",
    "url": "https://illinois-state-police.prezly.com/illinois-state-police-arrests-swansea-woman-for-first-degree-murder",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/jjId",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE",
    "slug": "illinois-state-police-arrests-swansea-woman-for-first-degree-murder",
    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: center\">JUNE 5, 2026</p><p><strong>EAST ST. LOUIS</strong> &ndash; The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) arrested 23-year-old Brion D. Bess of Swansea, IL for First Degree Murder (Class M Felony). </p><p>On June 3, 2026, the East St. Louis Police Department requested ISP to assist with a homicide investigation that occurred at the intersection of 25<sup>th</sup> Street and Ridge Avenue. The victim, 24-year-old, Ni&rsquo;kajha A.K. Johnson of St. Louis, MO was shot inside her vehicle while stopped at a stop sign. Johnson was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.</p><p>After a thorough investigation, with the assistance of the East St. Louis Police Department, ISP PSEG Special Agents identified Bess as the suspect. On June 5, 2026, ISP presented the case to the St. Clair County State&rsquo;s Attorney&rsquo;s Office, who charged Bess with First Degree Murder. Bess is being held at the St. Clair County Jail pending her first court appearance. There is no further information. </p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 33.64%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/a9a104be-191d-47ef-8479-22a92baf8713/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"Brion D. Bess (F/23)\"\n                id=\"image-a9a104be-191d-47ef-8479-22a92baf8713\"\n                data-id=\"a9a104be-191d-47ef-8479-22a92baf8713\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/a9a104be-191d-47ef-8479-22a92baf8713/-/inline/no/06.05.26_Z6PSEG_Bess+Booking+Photo.jpg\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/a9a104be-191d-47ef-8479-22a92baf8713/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Brion D. Bess (F/23)\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\">Brion D. Bess (F/23)</figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em><strong>The charge is not evidence against the defendant, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.</strong></em></p><p style=\"text-align: center\">###</p><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-2d8582c3-6660-46ec-be9a-ede92e8776d0\">\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__avatar\"><img src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/c186f24e-632d-4a36-87df-aa1eb28e1989/-/crop/425x425/63,0/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\" alt=\"Illinois State Police\" class=\"release-content-contact__avatar-image\" /></div>\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Illinois State Police</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Public Information Office, Office of the Director</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/@ILStatePolice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"@ILStatePolice\"><svg class=\"icon icon-twitter release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-twitter\"></use>\n            </svg>@ILStatePolice</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/ILStatePolice/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"ILStatePolice\"><svg class=\"icon icon-facebook release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-facebook\"></use>\n            </svg>ILStatePolice</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://isp.illinois.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"isp.illinois.gov\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>isp.illinois.gov</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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