In the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 18, 2020, the life of a young boy from Saint Louis, Missouri, was tragically cut short. Kevin Ray Barrett III, a 6-year-old male, was found deceased inside his home on Quincy Street in the Boulevard Heights neighborhood. His death was the result of a devastating murder-suicide carried out by his mother.
Police had initially been called to the residence shortly before 6 a.m. for a report of gunfire.
Upon their arrival, they encountered a 25-year-old woman who was described as acting irrationally. Concerned that she may have been armed and mentally impaired, the officers decided to withdraw from the house and call for backup.
A short time later, another gunshot was heard from within the home. When officers re-entered the residence, they discovered the bodies of both Kevin and his mother. Investigators believe the woman fatally shot her son before turning the gun on herself. It remains unclear if the boy was killed before or after the initial police response.
Given the circumstances of a murder-suicide, there were no suspects sought by law enforcement in connection with Kevin's death. The incident was a somber reminder of the city's ongoing struggle with gun violence, as the young boy's death marked the 20th child to be killed by gunfire in St. Louis in 2020.
