St. Louis police are once again asking for the public’s help in solving the 2018 killing of John Keene, renewing attention on a case that has sat cold for nearly six years.
Keene was shot on May 29, 2018, in the 1000 block of Russell Boulevard and died at the scene. The homicide remains on the department’s cold-case roster, with detectives still looking for the tip that could finally point them to a suspect.
In a social media post on Sunday, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department urged anyone with information to come forward, sharing a Homicide Division email address and phone number for tips. The department’s post and its online unsolved-homicides list highlight the date and location of the shooting and direct potential tipsters to CrimeStoppers for anonymous rewards. You can read the department’s Facebook post on the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Facebook page and see its cold-case listings on the SLMPD website.
Unresolved Cases Have Long Ripple Effects
Keene’s case is one of many lingering homicides in St. Louis. A joint investigation by The Marshall Project, St. Louis Public Radio and APM Reports found that more than half of recent killings in the city remain unsolved, leaving families struggling for closure.
The reporting details how staffing shortages, evidence backlogs and strained community trust have slowed investigations and left relatives in what one might fairly call emotional limbo. That broader context helps explain why police keep circling back to older files like Keene’s, hoping that renewed attention will shake loose new information.
How To Tip Investigators
Anyone with information about Keene’s death can email the Homicide Division at [email protected] or call the division at (314) 444‑5371, according to the department’s unsolved-homicides page.
People who prefer to stay anonymous can contact St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers through St. Louis Regional Crime Stoppers or by calling 1‑866‑371‑TIPS (8477) to ask about possible rewards.
Investigators say even seemingly minor details, like a vehicle description, a timeframe or old surveillance footage, can sometimes be enough to break open a cold case. Detectives hope the latest appeal will jog memories from anyone who was near Russell Boulevard that night in 2018 or who may still have video from the area.
The department continues to update its unsolved-homicides page and social media channels as new tips come in, keeping Keene’s case on the public’s radar while they wait for the lead that finally moves it forward.
