Two Killed Monday Evening In Separate Shootings

Two men were fatally shot Monday evening in separate shootings, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The first victim was discovered in the Mark Twain neighborhood of North St. Louis shortly before 6 p.m. Family members, who looked on a detectives investigated the scene, said the man was in his early 20s and did not live in the neighborhood.

A second man died after 8:30 p.m. near North Taylor and Lee Avenues, also on the city's north side. The deaths bring the total number of homicides in St. Louis to 182 this year, just six short of the total for 2016 and 2015, which tied for 188 murders, and higher than any year since 1995. Three-quarters of those deaths were caused by firearms.

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 accidents. Almost half are children or young adults.

Police have not made any arrests and are looking for leads in the killings. Anyone with information is urged to 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.

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