In the quiet hours of a Sunday morning in St. Louis, Missouri, the life of 52-year-old Kerry Charley was tragically cut short. On June 9, 2019, Charley, a man of Native American descent and a member of the Shawnee Tribe of Miami, Oklahoma, was found shot in the 3900 block of St. Ferdinand Avenue, not far from Beaumont High School. The discovery was made around 5 a.m., and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kerry Charley was one of two victims in a double shooting that morning.
The second victim, a 34-year-old man, was also found with a gunshot wound but was conscious and breathing when emergency services arrived. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The incident unfolded in the city's Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood, leaving residents and Charley's loved ones in shock.
An ASE certified mechanic by trade, Kerry was remembered by his family as a man with a big heart, always willing to help those in need. He was a father, a fiancé, a brother, and a friend to many. His family described him as someone who was gentle on the inside but tough on the outside, a lover and a fighter with a tenacious spirit who had found peace with God despite life's hardships.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's homicide unit took charge of the investigation. As of the initial reports, no suspects had been identified, and no arrests had been made. The police have not publicly released a motive for the shooting or any further details about the circumstances that led to the violent encounter that claimed Kerry Charley's life and left another man wounded. The investigation into his death remains ongoing.
