Associated Press - November 8, 2009 9:44 PM ET
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - The co-owner of an East St. Louis convenience store where three women were shot dead in their car over the weekend says he tried to offer medical assistance to the victims but quickly found that to be futile.
Jay Makhluf says he heard what sounded like 14 gunshots outside his Crown Food Mart on Saturday night, then saw the women dead. He says they'd been shot in the head, chest and neck.
Three children inside the car managed to escape harm. Makhluf says 1 of the women appeared to use her body as a shield to cover 1 of the kids.
A suspect who police say exchanged words with 1 of the women before opening fire was arrested Sunday night in St. Louis.
His name hasn't been released because no charges have been filed.
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