In a tragic and senseless act of violence, 31-year-old Larry Neal Jr. lost his life on Sunday, July 7, 2019, in Florissant, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. The incident, which began with a minor accident, quickly escalated into a fatal shooting.
That evening, Neal was at an apartment complex on Chesapeake Drive. While walking through a breezeway, he tripped over a barbecue grill and stumbled into the apartment door of 30-year-old Thomas Clement.
Following this accidental bump, as Neal was proceeding up a stairway, Clement emerged from his apartment brandishing a handgun.
Words were exchanged, and Neal, who was unarmed, turned to go back down the stairs. It was at this moment that Clement opened fire, discharging his weapon approximately eleven times at Neal. A neighbor who witnessed the aftermath reported that Neal had been shot multiple times, including in the chest and stomach. Despite efforts by his friend and the neighbor to render aid until emergency services arrived, Neal's injuries were too severe.
Law enforcement officers responded to the scene around 12:20 a.m. and found Neal with several gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The investigation into the shooting was conducted by the St. Louis County Police Department's Bureau of Crimes Against Persons.
Following the investigation, Thomas Clement was taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action. Believing him to be a danger to the community, the court ordered that Clement be held without bond.
