In the spring of 2021, a burst of violence on a Monday afternoon in St. Louis claimed the life of 20-year-old Mykal Taylor. On April 5th, at approximately 2:15 p.m., police were called to the vicinity of Goodfellow Boulevard and McLaran Avenue in the North Pointe neighborhood following reports of a shooting and a subsequent car crash.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered a grim scene. Inside the wrecked vehicle was 17-year-old Joseph Williams, who was suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The investigation then led officers to a residence a few blocks away on Coleridge Drive in the neighboring community of Jennings. Inside the home, they found Mykal Taylor, who had also been fatally shot.
The double homicide was part of a violent day in the city, with other shootings occurring in close proximity and within a short timeframe. Investigators, however, did not immediately find any evidence to suggest that the incidents were related. In the initial stages of the investigation into the deaths of Taylor and Williams, law enforcement officials did not release any information regarding potential suspects.
As the investigation continued, details about arrests or the identification of any suspects in the killing of Mykal Taylor and Joseph Williams have not been made public. The case remains a painful and unresolved tragedy for the families and the community, a stark reminder of the persistent issue of gun violence in the area. The absence of publicly announced arrests or charges leaves the narrative of that violent April afternoon without a conclusion, and the question of who was responsible for the deaths of the two young men officially unanswered.
