GRANITE CITY – A Granite City resident charged with fatally shooting a teen victim after admittedly “playing with a gun” remains in custody while facing trial in Madison County.
18-year-old Syah T. Lee of Granite City faces a Class 3 felony count of involuntary manslaughter and two Class 4 felony counts of reckless discharge of a firearm. Lee was initially charged on June 23, 2026 with a Class 4 felony count of reckless conduct before the charge was amended on June 26 to the Class 3 count of involuntary manslaughter.
On June 21, 2026, Lee allegedly recklessly pointed a loaded weapon at a 17-year-old victim and caused the firearm to discharge, thereby “unintentionally causing the death” of the minor victim, charging documents state.
According to the state’s petition to deny Lee’s pretrial release from custody, Granite City Police officers responded to a report of a shooting and discovered the victim was being treated at the Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City before being transported to a St. Louis hospital in critical condition.
The petition notes that since the charges against Lee were initially filed, the victim has since passed away, resulting in the amended charges.
“Officers contacted Lee at the hospital, learning that Lee had transported the victim,” the petition states. “Lee reported the location of the shooting, but was dishonest about his involvement.”
Lee eventually admitted to his involvement in the shooting, reportedly telling officers he accidentally shot the victim “while playing with a gun.” Darion G. Myers, a witness who confirmed Lee was the shooter, told police Lee was pointing the weapon as the victim arrived at Myers’s home before the weapon discharged, striking the victim in the doorway.
Three other Granite City residents, including Myers, face two Class 4 felony counts each of obstructing justice after allegedly hiding the weapon used in the shooting, described as an “AR platform pistol,” within a Granite City apartment. These include Myers, age 20, Tonicia C. Harold, 27, and Anthony D. Smith Jr., 28.
Myers allegedly knowingly provided false information to police by claiming he did not know who shot the juvenile victim when in fact, he was present and witnessed the shooting. Harold and Smith reportedly gave false information to officers by claiming they had not concealed any weapons provided to them by Myers, when they had in fact concealed the firearm at his request.
The Granite City Police Department presented each of the cases against Lee, Myers, Harold, and Smith. Myers, Harold, and Smith were each ordered released from custody pending trial. Lee currently remains in custody at the Madison County Jail with a jury trial set for July 20, 2026.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
