After a bloody night of shootings all over St. Louis city left six dead, police have arrested three suspects and charged one with murder.
Ramon Demery faces a murder charge for the killing of Leon Rivers, a 34-year-old man from the 4800 block of Penrose Street.
See also: Homicides No. 3-8: 6 Dead, 3 Injured in 19 Bloody Hours of Shootings in St. Louis
Rivers' death was the first homicide of six back-to-back fatal shootings between 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday. St. Louis Metropolitan Police found Rivers lying in the street in the 5000 block of Cates Avenue with a gunshot wound to the chest, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Police detectives say Rivers, a 42-year-old woman and several children were inside a home on Cates Avenue when Demery entered through an unlocked door. The woman knew Demery, and he'd been to the home before.
Demery pointed a six-shot silver revolver with a pearl handle at the woman's head, and she ran from the home, police said.
Demery then ordered Rivers to walk towards the front door and get on the ground. Then he told Rivers to run, witnesses told police. Rivers was shot while trying to run away from the residence.
Police found Demery at a location he was known to frequent, according to the charging documents. Demery had a six-shot silver revolver with a pearl handle on his possession when he was arrested.
Demery was charged with murder, exhibiting a concealed weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and armed criminal action. He is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
Demery has three previous convictions in California: two for guns and one for marijuana possession.
Here is the police incident report:
Incident: HomicideLocation: 5000 block of Cates
Date/Time: 01/14/15 @ 1925
Victim #1: Leon Rivers, 34-year old black male of the 4800 block of Penrose (deceased)
Victim #2: 42-year old black female
Suspect: 29-year old black male
Officers received a call for a male victim shot and lying in the street at the above location. Victim #1 was located unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Investigation revealed Victim #1 and Victim #2 were inside the residence when the suspect entered through an unlocked door. The suspect gave some instructions to the victims. Victim #1 was shot by the suspect as he ran from the residence. Victim #1 collapsed outside where he was located. No other injuries were reported. Victim #1's identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
Follow Lindsay Toler on Twitter at @StLouisLindsay. E-mail the author at [email protected].
