Two Dead, Seven More Shot On Saint Patrick's Day

ST. LOUIS, MO — St. Patrick's Day saw six separate shootings in St. Louis that left two dead and more than half a dozen injured.

Police say a 23-year-old man was shot in the neck around 5 p.m. Saturday in the 4500 block of McMillian Ave. in north St. Louis, about four blocks southwest of Beckett Park. He later died and the accused shooter has been arrested.

A 30-year-old man was also shot and killed on the city's south side Saturday night. The shooting occurred around 11:20 p.m in 4500 block of Nebraska Ave., between Mt. Pleasant Park and Interstate 55. Police have not identified any suspects or made any arrests in the second shooting, and the victim's name has not been released.

Several non-fatal shootings also occurred after dark Saturday.

A 16-year-old boy was shot Saturday night in the 5000 block of Beacon Ave., in the Walnut Park East neighborhood of north St. Louis. Police say he is expected to survive, but did not release further information.

A 21-year-old man was shot around 8:30 Saturday night while driving near the intersection of Kingshighway Blvd. and Natural Bridge Road, a busy commercial area with several restaurants, gas stations and retail stores nearby. His injuries were non-life threatening and police described them as a graze.

A man and woman were shot during an attempted robbery in the 3900 block of South Broadway in south St. Louis around 10:30 Saturday night. Police said both were conscious and taken to a hospital.

And around 11:00 p.m., a 35-year-old woman was shot in the head in the 5100 block of Gilmore Ave., east of Gregory J. Carter Park in north St. Louis. She was also conscious and breathing, according to police.

More than 30,000 Americans are killed by guns every year and twice that number are injured, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 13,000 are murdered. The rest take their own lives or are victims of shooting accidents. Almost half are children or young adults.

Last year St. Louis cracked its 25-year murder record. Per capita, the city ranks third for homicides in the United States and first for non-fatal shootings, according to data from the FBI and Major Cities Chiefs Association.

Anyone with information about any of the shootings should contact St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers toll free at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477). All callers can remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted through the CrimeStoppers website or free app.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

Image via Shutterstock