Update (August 13, 2021): Police have arrested Prinshun McClain, an 18-year-old teen who is accused of killing a St. Louis mother and her child, as well as another young woman.

The teenager, who was booked on three counts of murder, one count of burglary and four counts of armed criminal action, was arrested near the Mississippi River, in Granite City, Illinois, NBC News reported.

Terri Ward, the mother of 27-year-old Terri Bankhead, said she feels relieved after police found the suspect.

"It's just so unreal. Well, now I have a little relief because they caught him," Ward said.

Bankhead and her 8-year-old daughter, Da’Nilya Edwards, were found dead inside their apartment on Wednesday. Ward said she called 911 when she went to the home and found their bodies tied to a bed after they had been shot multiple times.

Earlier on Wednesday, police found another victim, 26-year-old Victoria Manisco. Police said Manisco was found dead on the porch of her home after she had been shot late Tuesday night. The crime occurred about eight miles away from Bankhead’s apartment.

According to KMOV4, McClain was identified as a neighbor of Bankhead. Surveillance video from Tuesday showed the suspect following Manisco around 11 p.m. He was then seen running away from the area shortly after gunshots were heard.

Police said McClain was also seen Wednesday morning leaving his apartment and walking to the rear of the building to enter Bankhead’s home. Ward, who was unable to reach her daughter all morning, went to the apartment around 3 p.m. and saw the gruesome scene.

Bankhead, who is nicknamed “Shug,” is remembered as a dedicated single mother and somebody who had a great sense of humor.

"Growing up with Shug it was never a dull moment, like you're gonna laugh the entire time. She should've been a stand up comedian," Sha'Greggria Brown, the mother’s cousin, said. "We all from St. Louis, and yes we did all grow up together pretty much every day."

The family is pleading with the community to help solve the crime.

"It's an 8-year-old that was just murdered and tied up in your community. We need to stand up and take control of our community. Do something better, everyone just do something. Something needs to be done," Brown said. "Everyone feels like they need to move out of town for a better life and this is where we grew up at."

Original (August 12, 2021): St. Louis police are on the hunt for a motive and suspect regarding the tragic deaths of a woman and her 8-year-old daughter.

Terri Bankhead, 27, and her daughter Da’Nilya Edwards were found dead inside their apartment on Aug. 11, the Associated Press reported.

Bankhead’s mom told police during a 911 call Wednesday afternoon, that she discovered their bodies tied to a bed and said they had been shot multiple times.

The woman says she grew concerned for her daughter and granddaughter when she tried contacting Bankhead but had a hard time reaching her.

During a press conference, St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden stated that the department has not made any arrests and asked residents for assistance in locating anyone who may have been involved in the heinous crime.

“This is very tragic. It’s just too much for anyone to bear, so we’re asking the community to assist us and provide us with information,” he said.

Family and friends of Bankhead believe that someone intentionally targeted the mother and daughter, KMOV 4 reported.

Bankhead’s cousin, Sha'Greggria Brown, told the CBS affiliate station that Bankhead was always the life of the party.

"Growing up with Shug [Bankhead] it was never a dull moment, like you're gonna laugh the entire time. She should've been a stand up comedian,” she said.

She added that Bankhead was a loving mother to her daughter and an amazing friend to all who knew her.

"If didn't nobody have no money and Shug did, we all had some. That's the type of person she is. She is so giving. She's fun to be around. She's down for her friends, she was very loyal. When I got the news I was like 'Why?' Like I don't understand, come on Shug,” Brown said.

KMOV reported that North City, the neighborhood where Bankhead and her daughter were killed, has seen the deaths of 11 children so far this year.

Brown said residents in North City need to speak up and take action to prevent this from happening again.

"It's an 8-year-old that was just murdered and tied up in your community. We need to stand up and take control of our community. Do something better, everyone just do something. Something needs to be done," Brown said.

"Everyone feels like they need to move out of town for a better life and this is where we grew up at," Brown added.

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