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BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) An Illinois man is jailed on $2 million bond after being charged in the shooting deaths of three women at a convenience store in East St. Louis.

St. Clair County prosecutors charged 21-year-old Milton Lattimore of East St. Louis on Tuesday with three counts of first-degree murder.

Authorities allege Lattimore gunned down 24-year-old Jaimaca McDaniel, 26-year-old Tenika Harvey and 26-year-old Raykel Gathing on Saturday as they sat in a car with three children. The children weren't injured.

Relatives say Lattimore was McDaniel's ex-boyfriend. He was arrested the next day in St. Louis.

A judge entered a not guilty plea on Lattimore's behalf Tuesday and told him he would appoint a defense attorney for him.

Separately, McDaniel's cousin died in an accidental shooting Monday.

Investigators say 22-year-old Zondra Garner shot herself with a gun that relatives say she bought the day before for her protection.

Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-11-09 0821CST | save this article / add to your favorites list