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Police make arrest in death of man on St. Patrick's Day

Ronald L. Holland was shot to death by Danyel Johnson, someone he reportedly knew for many years, police said.

MARYVILLE, Ill. — About 20 Major Case Squad Investigators are actively investigating the death of a man on St. Patrick's Day.

According to a news release from the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, on March 17, Maryville Police Department received a 911 call about a man who was found face down with multiple gunshot wounds in Madison County, Illinois, near the edge of Maryville.

At the request of the Maryville Police Department, the Major Case Squad was activated to investigate the man’s death.

Police investigators gave an update on the case Monday afternoon.  

At the news conference, Major Case Squad commander Major Jeff Connor said Ronald L. Holland, 40, of Jennings, Missouri, was shot to death by Danyel Johnson.

Major Case Squad officials said Holland and Johnson had known each other for many years. They said Johnson shot Holland, took a vehicle often driven by Holland, and drove back to St. Louis. Police found the missing vehicle in St. Louis.

On March 19, Johnson was found and taken into custody on four felony charges, two of which were for first-degree murder.

Maryville police and the Major Case Squad did not release any information about evidence, motive or particulars about the crime scene out of respect for the victim’s family.

Major Connor said cases like this one are “what the Major Case Squad was designed for.” Maryville has a small police department with one detective, Maryville Police Chief Robert Carpenter said.

Carpenter said within 30 minutes of being activated, several Major Case Squad investigators came to the area.

The Major Case Squad and Maryville police confirmed that the homicide had nothing to do with Madison County or Maryville, and Holland and Johnson were just passing through the area.

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