On the afternoon of September 6, 2020, a violent outburst occurred in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, tragically ending the life of Sandra McCaw. The 54-year-old Black female was well-known in her community, often referred to affectionately by nicknames such as 'Mom Dukes' and 'Mee Maw.' The shooting took place on the 5800 block of Minerva Avenue, a residential area that became the center of a homicide investigation following the events of that Sunday.
St.
Louis Metropolitan Police officers responded to the scene at approximately 5:09 p.m. after receiving reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered McCaw lying in the street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the emergency response, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The gunfire had struck several individuals during the incident, leaving three men injured alongside McCaw. Two of the men, aged 59 and 47, sustained graze wounds and declined medical treatment at the location, while a 29-year-old man was shot multiple times and transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Homicide detectives launched an investigation into the shooting, searching for leads to identify those responsible for the gunfire. As of the available reports following the incident, authorities had not released information regarding any suspects or potential motives. No arrests were immediately made in connection with McCaw's death, and the case joined a series of violent episodes that marked a difficult year for the city. Friends and neighbors were left to mourn a woman they described as kind and loving, while the search for justice continued without a named perpetrator in custody.
