Mom Shot By Husband Leaves Behind Twin Babies; 8-Year-Old Also Killed: Police

WEST PEORIA, IL — The family of a West Peoria woman and her 8-year-old son is raising money to pay for their funerals after the two were fatally shot by the mother’s husband, according to police.

Quadreka S. Payne, 32, and Cael Thornton were killed in their home by Payne’s husband and Thornton’s stepfather, 34-year-old Rickey J. Payne, according to the Peoria County sheriff’s and coroner’s offices.

“Dreka had a beautiful soul and her life was taken too soon,” said a GoFundMe started by her cousin, Sheila Edwards. “Dreka and her 8-year-old son who tried to protect his mom didn't deserve this.”

Quadreka Payne leaves behind twin 1-year-old girls, who are Rickey Payne’s children and who were in the home when she and Thornton were killed, as well as a 14-year-old son, according to police and the GoFundMe.

Deputies were called shortly after 8 a.m. Sept. 29 to the residence and detained Rickey Payne at the scene, authorities said. He was outside when they arrived and at first claimed he had been out of the home and saw a broken window upon return, but later confessed, after police found the bodies, according to the Peoria Journal Star.

The couple had fought and a gun that Rickey Payne was holding went off during a struggle, striking Quadreka Payne, who then approached Rickey Payne while injured, leading him to shoot her, the Journal Star reported. Thornton came downstairs in the wake of the commotion and ignored Rickey Payne’s demands that the boy stay upstairs, so Payne ordered the child to lie down and shot him in the head, according to the Journal Star.

Rickey Payne is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated unlawful use of weapons, possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated discharge of a firearm, two counts of endangering the life and health of a child, and obstructing justice, police said.

A judge Sept. 30 ordered a $5 million bond for Rickey Payne, who has convictions in Iowa and Mississippi, the Journal Star reported.