In the warm early hours of a summer night in Saint-Louis, Missouri, the life of 27-year-old Dorian Sims was tragically cut short. On June 7, 2020, Sims and another man, Ronnell Hankins, were discovered inside a vehicle in the 5100 block of Maple Avenue, in the Sherman Park neighborhood. Both men had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced deceased at the scene by first responders. The initial investigation by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department led them to believe that the fatal shots were fired by individuals in a silver sedan near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Hamilton Avenue.
The news of Dorian Sims's violent death sent a shockwave of grief through his family. His older sister was celebrating her birthday when she received the devastating call, a day meant for joy forever marred by the loss of her younger brother. Family members described Sims as a hardworking man dedicated to providing for his family, including his young son. In the days following the shooting, the family was given a glimmer of hope when police reportedly obtained video footage from the night of the incident, leading them to believe an arrest would be forthcoming.
Despite the initial optimism for a swift resolution, the investigation into the murders of Dorian Sims and Ronnell Hankins has grown cold. As time passed, no suspects were publicly identified, and no arrests have been announced in connection with the double homicide. The case is now listed among the open homicides with the St. Louis Regional Crime Stoppers, a silent testament to a life taken too soon and a family still waiting for justice. The community is left with the memory of a young father and the unanswered questions surrounding his untimely death.
