Last Friday afternoon, shots echoed through the 3000 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., thrusting the community into an unwelcome spotlight. At just after 3:00 p.m., first responders arrived at a chaotic scene where a 17-year-old boy had fallen victim to gunfire. He was swiftly transported by EMS to an area hospital, fortunately stabilized and listed in stable condition. In a separate account of unwarranted violence, a 70-year-old man, while sitting in his vehicle amidst this turmoil, found himself in the crossfire, sustaining a leg wound from a stray bullet piercing through his driver door.
The elderly victim recounted the harrowing moments to police, detailing how he was caught in the fray. I "heard gunshots and observed individuals in dark clothing shooting at another person," he detailed, according to the information provided by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. His injuries necessitated that he be privately taken to an another area hospital for treatment.
While the quest for justice is underway, those who wish to contribute to the investigation anonymously have avenues to do so. The SLMPD urges individuals with information to contact the District 4 detectives at 314-444-2500. In addition, the CrimeStoppers line at 866-371-TIPS (8477) remains open for anonymous tips that could potentially lead to a reward.
