MCS Report #24
Classification: Homicide
Requesting Agency: East St Louis Police Department
Date of Activation: 01/16/1974
Victims: Ruby D. Smith, Booker T. Mull and Otha Byrd
Suspect: William L. Smith
The East St. Louis Police Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad in investigating the deaths of Ruby Smith (age 53), Booker Mull (age 69), and Otha Byrd (age 29). At approximately 10:15am, police officers responded to Ruby’s Lounge (926 South 15th Street) for a report of a man down. While officers were enroute to the scene, the report was updated to two men down. When officers arrived on scene, they located Booker Mull and Otha Byrd lying on the floor. They also located the owner of the bar, Ruby Smith, on the floor behind the bar. All three had been shot and were pronounced dead on scene.
As a result of this investigation, William Smith (age 29) was charged with Murder 1st Degree.
