On a summer evening in Saint-Louis, Missouri, the life of 29-year-old Roy Griffen was tragically cut short. On August 31, 2020, Griffen, a male, fell victim to gun violence in the 4000 block of North Prairie Avenue. Another man, Chauncey Brown, who was also 29, was killed in the same incident. Both men sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
In the wake of the double homicide, an investigation led to the arrest of a suspect. Torre L.
Upchurch, a 28-year-old resident of Bellefontaine Neighbors, was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with the deaths of Griffen and Brown. The charges brought a measure of progress in the case, though the motive for the shootings was not immediately made public.
The loss of Roy Griffen was felt deeply by those who knew him. On a memorial page, he was remembered as a funny individual and was affectionately known by the nickname "Manman." The page also indicated he was a father. The violent nature of his death left a void in the lives of his family and friends, a story that became another tragic statistic in the city's struggle with gun violence.
