In St. Louis, gun violence doesn't take a holiday.
Three young black men were shot dead on Christmas Eve, according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police. St. Louis' homicide total for 2014 is nearing 160 deaths, a significant jump from last year's 120 homicides.
See also: Homicide No. 150: Jeron Frairson Charged With Killing Teen Girl in Double Shooting
No. 154 Officers found Deandre Redd, 20, on a sidewalk suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen just after noon Christmas Eve in the 800 block of Clarendon Avenue, less than half a mile south of his home in the 5200 block of Maple Avenue. Redd was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators are looking for two black male suspects, according to police reports.
No. 155 At 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve evening, two gunmen opened fire on four men in front of a downtown 7-Eleven, killing one man and injuring the other three before speeding away in a gray four-door car.
Christopher Johnson, a twenty-year-old man from the 4400 block of Bircher Boulevard, was pronounced dead on the scene when police found him lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the chest in the 200 block of North 17th Street.
Bullets struck all three of the men Johnson was with when he was killed. A 54-year-old white man was struck in the face, and a 32-year-old black man was shot in the chest. Both men were in critical condition in the hospital. A 35-year-old black man was in stable condition after he was shot in the buttocks.
Police released a description of the shooters' clothes: One suspect was wearing blue jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt, and the other suspect was wearing an orange vest, a black hooded sweatshirt, red pants and dreadlocks.
No. 156 Courtney Williams, 21, was trying to make a U-turn near the 5000 block of Kensington Avenue before 7:30 p.m. when three men opened fire, shooting Williams in the head and causing him to crash into a retaining wall, police said.
Williams was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A man who was riding in the car with Williams was not struck by bullets but suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Here are the full reports from police on each shooting:
Incident: HomicideLocation: 800 block of Clarendon
Date/Time: 12/24/14 @1212
Victim: Deandre Redd, a 20-year old black male, of the 5200 block of Maple
Suspect(s): Two unknown black males
Upon arrival, officers located the victim lying on the sidewalk unresponsive. The victim suffered gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen. The victim was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Investigation revealed two black male suspects shot the victim. The investigation is ongoing.
Incident: HomicideLocation: 1600 block of Olive
Date/Time: 12/24/14 @1725
Victim #1: Christopher Johnson, a 20-year old black male, of the 4400 block of Bircher
Victim #2: 35-year old black male
Victim #3: 54- year old white male
Victim #4: 32-year old black male
Officers responded to the above location for several calls for "Shots Fired." Upon district cars arriving, four victims of a shooting were located. Victim#1, Christopher Johnson, was found lying in the street in the 200 block of N.17th Street. He sustained a gunshot wound to his chest and was pronounced deceased on the scene. Victim #2 suffered a gunshot wound to his buttocks. He was transported to a hospital where he was listed as stable. Victim #3 suffered a gunshot wound to his face. He was transported to a hospital where he is listed as critical. Victim #4 sustained a gunshot wound to his chest. He was transported to the hospital where he was listed as critical. Investigation revealed a four door gray vehicle stopped in the parking lot in the 1600 block of Olive. Two black male suspects exited the vehicle and began shooting at the victims, who were all in close proximity of each other. The vehicle fled the scene, traveling north on 16th Street until out of sight. Suspect #1 is described as a black male, wearing blue jeans, a black hooded sweatshirt, no further. Suspect#2 is described as a black male, dreadlocks, orange vest, black hooded sweatshirt, and red pants. The investigation is ongoing.
Incident: HomicideLocation: 5000 block of Kensington
Date/Time: 12/24/2014 @ 1926
Victim: Courtney Williams, 21-year old black male of the 5200 block of Helen
Suspect(s): Three unknown black males
Officers responded to calls for "Shots Fired" in the area of Kingshighway and Cates. Upon arrival, Officers located Victim #1 at the above location occupying a burgundy vehicle which had crashed into a retaining wall. Victim #1 suffered a gunshot wound to his head. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Victim #2, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was not struck by gunfire but suffered minor injuries from the vehicle accident. He was transported to a hospital where he was listed as stable. Victim #2 stated, three black males shot at him and Victim #1 as they were attempting to make a U-turn. The investigation is ongoing.
Follow Lindsay Toler on Twitter at @StLouisLindsay. E-mail the author at [email protected].
