08/21/2026
Today, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office announced a guilty verdict in the case involving the April 22 shooting in Alton.
A Madison County jury found 31-year-old Samuel J. Chatman guilty of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a fi***rm, possession of a fi***rm by a repeat felon, and aggravated discharge of a fi***rm.
The case began when Alton Police officers responded to the shooting and immediately secured the scene, began gathering evidence, and worked to determine what had occurred.
From those first moments, members of the Criminal Investigation Division worked relentlessly to piece together the events surrounding the shooting. Investigators reviewed video footage, cellular phone records, license plate reader information, and other evidence to establish a timeline and identify those responsible.
Chatman was taken into custody just days after the shooting. He remains in the Madison County Jail awaiting sentencing.
We want to recognize the patrol officers who responded that night and the members of our Criminal Investigation Division who spent countless hours investigating this case. Their work, along with the cooperation of residents and businesses who provided valuable evidence, helped move this case forward.
We also appreciate Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine, Assistant State’s Attorneys Luke Yager and Zac Cato, and the entire prosecution team for their work in presenting this case to a jury.
This case is a strong example of what can happen when officers, detectives, prosecutors, and law enforcement partners work together from the initial response through the courtroom.
The prosecution of co-defendant Anthony L. Shanklin remains pending.
HAINE ANNOUNCES GUILTY VERDICT FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER; CONVICTED SHOOTER NOW FACES UP TO LIFE IN PRISON
Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine announced today that a jury has found an Alton man guilty of attempted murder for shooting another man four times outside a residence.
The jury found Samuel J. Chatman, 31, guilty of attempted murder (class X felony), aggravated battery with a fi***rm (class X), possession of a fi***rm by a repeat felon (class X) and aggravated discharge of a fi***rm (class 1 felony). The jury deliberated about six hours before returning the verdict Thursday night.
The shooting happened April 22, 2026, outside a residence on Locust Street in Alton. Witnesses said the victim, Semaj J. Johnson-Joiner, was shot as he approached a vehicle that pulled in front of his mother’s residence. Shots were fired from the vehicle, which then sped away.
The victim received treatment at a St. Louis hospital and survived. He was shot in the face, chest, shoulder and hip.
Alton Police conducted an investigation, utilizing video footage from businesses and residents, cellular phone records and license plate readers. Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager, in his closing argument, said detectives gathered and reviewed “video after video after video” to build a timeline of the defendant’s presence in the area. The investigation resulted in Chatman being taken into custody a few days after the shooting.
The case was prosecuted by Yager and Assistant State’s Attorney Zac Cato.
Haine commended the prosecution team and Alton Police.
“Yager and Cato took on a complicated case involving a violent shooting, worked quickly to master a tremendous volume of evidence, and effectively presented that evidence to a jury only four months later. That is not an easy task, particularly on a case that moved to trial so quickly,” Haine said.
He added: “Violence in our community will be thoroughly investigated and aggressively prosecuted. This was an act of extreme violence, and we’re grateful that the jury has held the defendant accountable.”
Chatman remains in the Madison County Jail and will be sentenced later. The class X felonies are punishable by up to 60 years in prison. In addition, the jury made a special finding that Chatman personally discharged a fi***rm during the commission of the offense. The fi***rm enhancement means a term of 25 years to life will be added to Chatman’s sentence.
Circuit Judge Tim Berkley presided at the trial, which began Tuesday.
A co-defendant, Anthony L. Shanklin, 34, of Alton, is awaiting trial. Shanklin, who also is charged with attempted murder, is alleged to have been the driver of the vehicle.
