MCS Report #479
Classification: Homicide
Requesting Agency: Centreville Police Department
Date of Activation: 03/20/2011
Commander and Department: Officer Scott Workman, Greenville PD
Deputy Report Officer and Department: Lt. Keith Townsend, O’Fallon PD
Deputy Report Officer and Department: Officer Tom Boyd, Mascoutah PD
Victim: Gladys M. Cockrell
Suspect: Cortez D. Hamm
The Centreville Police Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad in investigating the death of Gladys Cockrell. At approximately 1:15pm, police officers responded to the area of the 500 block of South 42nd Street for a report of a person down. There they found Gladys Cockrell (age 88) in a driveway where she was pronounced dead. Gladys had been shot.
As investigators were investigating the case, they learned Glady’s car had just been seen by a neighbor. Police attempted to stop the car. The car’s driver, Cortez Hamm (age 20), shot at a police officer. The officer returned fire and killed Cortez.
As a result of this investigation, it was determined Cortez Hamm shot and killed Gladys Cockrell and then stole her car.
