On the evening of October 13, 2019, the life of 22-year-old Tyra Harris, a Black female from St. Louis, Missouri, was tragically cut short in the Midtown neighborhood of the city. Police officers were dispatched to the 2900 block of Samuel Shepard Drive after receiving reports of a shooting in the area. Upon arrival, they discovered Harris in the courtyard of an apartment complex, suffering from a gunshot wound to her back.
Despite the response of emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Neighbors in the vicinity reported hearing a single gunshot around 7:00 p.m., followed immediately by a loud scream, marking the moment the violent act occurred.
Homicide detectives launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death, canvassing the area for evidence and potential witnesses. Security footage obtained from the apartment complex proved to be a critical piece of the inquiry, revealing a large group of people gathered in the courtyard at the time of the shooting. Through the review of this video evidence, investigators located a witness who was able to identify the gunman. The witness informed authorities that the shooter was David Aaron, a man with whom Harris had previously been in a romantic relationship.
Following the identification, police arrested 24-year-old David Aaron in connection with the homicide. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office subsequently charged him with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for his alleged role in Harris's death. Following his arrest, a judge ordered that he be held without bond. The loss of Tyra Harris devastated her family, with her grandmother, Keena Yancey, publicly expressing the profound heartbreak the family endured and their desperate hope for justice for the young woman they described as sweet and hardworking.
