In the early morning hours of September 26, 2020, the quiet of a north St. Louis neighborhood was shattered by violence. In an alley tucked away in the 4900 block of Margaretta, the body of 58-year-old Chester Stokes was discovered. He had been shot multiple times.
Emergency services were called to the scene around 7:30 a.m., but it was too late to save the man, who was not conscious or breathing when he was found. The St.
Louis Police Department's homicide division was immediately dispatched to begin the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to Stokes's death.
The initial investigation revealed very little about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Detectives canvassed the area, speaking with potential witnesses and searching for any evidence that might lead them to a suspect. The incident was part of a particularly violent weekend in the city, which saw several other shootings and added to a growing homicide count for the year.
Despite the ongoing efforts of law enforcement, the investigation into Chester Stokes's murder has yet to yield any arrests or publicly identified suspects. The case remains open, a painful and unresolved chapter for his family and the community. Authorities continue to appeal to the public for any information that might bring a measure of justice for the killing of Chester Stokes.
