On Thursday, relatives and neighbors returned to the south St. Louis block where 15-year-old Dornae Hayes was gunned down, turning the intersection into a public vow that they will not let the case fade away. They said the investigation into her killing is still open and made clear they intend to keep pressing for answers. Those who knew Dornae remembered her as warm and full of life and said they are determined to see justice done.
Family members wore shirts printed with Dornae’s photo and urged anyone with information to speak up, according to FOX2. “We want justice,” Maurreusa Wallace told the station, as relatives including Jade Grover and Zariah Hayes described Dornae as “very caring” and “a great person.” They said the gathering was meant to keep public attention on a case that still has no arrests.
Police release surveillance images, ask for tips
Detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have released surveillance images of two males they believe were involved in the killing and say they have not yet received tips that led to an arrest, according to the SLMPD. Investigators say the suspects were seen leaving the scene in an unknown vehicle after the shooting and are asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Division at 314-444-5371. Anonymous tipsters are directed to CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477), and police note that only tips submitted through that program are eligible for rewards.
How the shooting unfolded
The shooting happened on May 21, 2024, after ShotSpotter alerted officers to gunfire in the 2700 block of Miami Street. Responding officers found Hayes on a rear porch and she later died at a hospital, First Alert 4 reported. St. Louis Post-Dispatch records show she was shot in the head and list her residence as the 6000 block of North Lindbergh Boulevard in Hazelwood. Authorities say two males appear on video near the house and then flee in a vehicle, and detectives are still reviewing surveillance footage and other leads.
Family's plea echoes in the neighborhood
Relatives told FOX2 that the shirts, photos and public gathering were all about keeping Dornae’s memory front and center on the very block where she died. They said they hope steady public pressure will finally bring in new tips. Family members stressed that even the smallest detail could be important and urged anyone with direct knowledge to contact investigators, including people who may have hesitated to come forward earlier.
How to help
Anyone with information is urged to call the SLMPD Homicide Division at 314-444-5371 or submit an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477), per the SLMPD. Police have released photos and video of two possible suspects and say community tips are often the best route to an arrest when leads are limited. Family members said they plan to keep holding remembrance events and urging the public not to let Dornae’s case slip from view.
The case remains open, and detectives are encouraging anyone with even small pieces of information to reach out. Dornae’s family say their goal is to turn grief into answers and, eventually, to close this painful chapter.
