EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Police are investigating after the body of the son of a former Major League Baseball player was discovered in an alley Sunday evening in East St. Louis.

According to Illinois State Police, the body of Byron Gettis Jr. was found a little after 6:30 p.m. in an alley near the 1700 block of Gay Avenue in East St. Louis. Gettis Jr. had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead. He was 19.

“I have no clue why or where did he come from, or why was he there,” said Solomon Lewis, who found Gettis Jr.’s body. “It’s a tragedy what happened, what was discovered [Sunday]. When I was cleaning up the yard, I noticed what appeared to be a body, which I thought was a log at first.”

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At the request of the East St. Louis Police Department, Illinois State Police agents responded to the scene to take over the investigation into the tragic shooting. The state police said that since the inquiry is in its early stages that no further details would be released.

The young man’s family has ties that run deep in the local sports community.

Gettis Jr. is the son of former MLB player Byron Gettis Sr.

The elder Gettis, who once played 21 games as an outfielder for the Kansas City Royals in 2004, confirmed his son’s death on social media. He also celebrated his son’s recent commitment to enlist in the U.S. Army, marking a promising new chapter in his son’s life.

Lewis said Gettis was home after serving a tour of duty in the military and was headed back in a week.

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“It’s sad that that happened,” he said. “You go to other countries and you come back safe but when you get back to your own hometown, you’re not safe.”

Gettis sr. built a notable career in sports after his brief stint in the majors, later serving as the head football coach at O’Fallon High School and, most recently, as an assistant at Althoff. His legacy in the local athletic community makes the loss even more heartbreaking.

“His father’s a very intelligent man. He’s done a lot for the community. He’s always looking out for not only his children, but other people’s children as well and helping them getting scholarships,” Lewis said.

Investigators are asking anyone with information on Gettis Jr.’s death to come forward.

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