Authorities are examining more than 50 leads and asking championship spectators to submit photographs and videos from the Madison, Illinois, game.
MADISON, Ill. — Investigators searching for those responsible for a deadly shooting at a youth football championship have expanded their review of evidence, working more than 50 leads and renewing an appeal for photographs and videos from hundreds of people who attended the Nov. 1 game.
The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis said Wednesday that 24 investigators were assigned to the case, which began after four adults were shot at Madison Senior High School at about 9:49 p.m. Sunday. Steve A. Smith, 64, of St. Charles, Missouri, died at the scene. Three other adults were taken to St. Louis-area hospitals and were reported in stable condition.
The renewed appeal marks a shift in the investigation toward assembling a detailed digital record of what happened around the championship game. Authorities said spectators may hold useful evidence without realizing it. Investigators are seeking photos and recordings made before, during and immediately after the shooting, including material that may show people, vehicles or activity in the background.
The FBI’s Springfield office is assisting with the collection of digital evidence. Investigators have said they believe two shooters may have been involved after 13 shell casings were found in two locations. Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or announced an arrest, and a motive has not been released.
Lt. Andrew Pierson, a public information officer for the Major Case Squad, said investigators want material from people who attended even if they did not see the shooting. He said details that seemed unimportant at the time could help investigators identify people or reconstruct movements around the field. Earlier in the investigation, Pierson also urged anyone who had heard information about the shooting since the event to contact authorities.
Federal prosecutors have said photographs may help investigators match faces with clothing seen in other evidence. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible. Authorities have not said whether investigators have identified specific suspects from the images collected so far.
The shooting occurred during a youth football championship involving children, but Madison Community Unit School District 12 said the event was not sponsored or organized by the school district. The field had been made available to a third party under district policy. The district canceled classes Monday and was already scheduled to be closed Tuesday for the election before classes resumed Wednesday.
The youth football organization that held the championships said it was cooperating with authorities. It described the day as one intended to celebrate young athletes and said violence had no place at events centered on children. The organization said it would not speculate about the circumstances while investigators continued their work.
Authorities have disclosed little about what caused the violence. Witness material reviewed by news organizations showed disorder around the field before gunshots were heard, but investigators have not publicly established a complete sequence or said what prompted the shooting. Officials have urged the public not to rely on incomplete accounts while detectives compare witness statements with physical and digital evidence.
The shooting killed Smith, whose family said he had attended the game to cheer for his grandson, and wounded three other adults. No children were reported among the gunshot victims. The presence of young players and their families has increased the urgency of investigators’ efforts to collect material from spectators who may have recorded portions of the evening.
As of Nov. 4, investigators continued to process leads and collect digital evidence, with no arrest publicly announced. The Major Case Squad said additional information would be released as the investigation develops.
Author note: Last updated November 4, 2026.