On the afternoon of January 20, 2022, a violent tragedy unfolded in the northern neighborhoods of St. Louis, Missouri, claiming the life of a young local resident. The victim was identified as Lakwan Echols, a 19-year-old Black male who lived in the nearby municipality of Florissant. The incident occurred just before 5:00 p.m. in the 5300 block of Terry Avenue, a residential area situated near Union Boulevard that borders the Wells-Goodfellow and Kingsway West neighborhoods.
According to
police reports, Echols was one of two individuals targeted by gunfire during the disturbance. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Both individuals were urgently transported to a local area hospital for medical treatment. While the second victim survived the attack, Echols succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the medical facility. The sudden nature of the shooting on a Thursday afternoon shook the community, leaving family and friends to mourn the loss of a young man who was known to loved ones by nicknames such as 'Dudie' and 'Baby Kwan.'
In the years following the homicide, investigators from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have continued their efforts to identify those responsible for the shooting. Despite the ongoing nature of the inquiry, authorities have not announced any arrests or filed charges against any specific individuals in connection with the case. No suspects have been publicly named, and the motive behind the gun violence remains under investigation. The case remains open as detectives seek information that could lead to a breakthrough in finding justice for Echols and his family.
