COLLINSVILLE, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 Special Agents arrested 33-year-old Drew D. Smading of Wichita, Kansas after a cross-county pursuit involving multiple vehicles being shot at.
According to an ISP news release:
On February 6, 2026, at approximately 3:50 p.m., a 9-1-1 call was received alerting police that a suspect in a Volkswagen SUV reportedly fired a weapon at another vehicle on IL-13 near Lenzburg in St. Clair County.
Marissa Police Department (MPD) officers located a vehicle matching the suspect’s description traveling on IL-13 in Marissa, IL and attempted a traffic stop.
The suspect, now identified as Smading, refused to pull over and continued to fire a weapon at an additional four vehicles. MPD initiated a pursuit, and Smading reportedly fired at a sixth victim’s vehicle. No victims were injured by gunfire.
Spading continued to flee before crashing near Sparta, IL.
MPD officers took Smading into custody. ISP Special Agents responded to the scene to lead the investigation. Two weapons were recovered.
On February 7, 2026, the case was presented to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office. Smading was charged with Armed Violence (Class X Felony), Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm (Class 1 Felony), and Aggravated Fleeing Police (Class 4 Felony). Additional charges may be filed pending further investigation.
Smading is being held at the St. Clair County Jail pending his first court appearance.
There is no further information available at this time.