East St. Louis, Illinois

From the December 22, 2006 St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

In the first case, police said two men were attempting to rob a home in the 5200 block of Ohio Avenue when they exchanged gunfire with other men inside the house. Police said one of the two was Richard R. Cosey III, 28, of the 7000 block of West A Street in Belleville. Cosey died of multiple gunshot wounds.

A large caliber weapon was found on the porch from where his body was removed.

A second man, 25, of East St. Louis, believed to have been involved in the robbery hobbled from the scene and flagged down a passing motorist, police said. He was driven to an area hospital with gunshot wounds to his chest and leg.

East St. Louis Police Captain Lenzie Stewart said that three men were inside the home on Ohio Avenue when they exchanged gunfire with the two men who were on the front porch.

“We received information that the occupants of the residence were attempting to defend themselves in what is believed to have been a robbery attempt,” Stewart said. Two of the three men were being interviewed by police.