St. Louis police are asking the public for information regarding the 2021 killing of 18-year-old Dwayne Wysinger. Wysinger was found shot next to a vehicle in the 1400 block of Lasalle Lane in the Peabody-Darst-Webbe neighborhood and was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives hope new tips will help advance the investigation.
In a Facebook post, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (OFFICIAL) renewed its appeal for information, sharing a transcript with scene details and investigator contact information. The post encourages anyone with information, regardless of how minor it may seem, to contact detectives.
Federal indictment in 2024
Federal prosecutors reported that two St. Louis men were indicted on May 8, 2024, on charges including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire in connection with Wysinger’s death, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri. Court filings cited by prosecutors state that the suspects were allegedly informed of a bounty on Wysinger and waited to ambush him. The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that the charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The 2021 scene
Police found 18-year-old Dwayne Wysinger Jr. with a gunshot wound to his upper body near a vehicle showing bullet damage on the night of August 14, 2021, in the Peabody-Darst-Webbe neighborhood. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
How to submit tips
Despite the federal indictments, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department continues to list Wysinger’s death as an unsolved homicide and is seeking public assistance. Tips can be sent to the Homicide Division via email at [email protected] or by calling the detective tip line at (314) 444-5371. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477), with the possibility of earning a reward.
Legal status
The May 2024 indictment claims that Wysinger’s shooting was part of a murder-for-hire plot, but prosecutors emphasize that these are allegations that must be proven in court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri. Court filings in the Eastern District of Missouri remain a matter of public record.
