On a Friday night in February 2019, Demetrius L. Stewart, a 45-year-old male, was enjoying a date night with his wife and friends at Tropicana Lanes bowling alley in Richmond Heights, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. The evening took a tragic turn when a fight broke out inside the bowling alley between 24-year-old Dante Lorenzo McGary and another person.
Stewart, an innocent bystander, was not involved in the altercation.
The dispute spilled out into the parking lot, where McGary retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and began shooting. In a case of mistaken identity, McGary approached the car where Stewart was sitting and shot him twice. Stewart was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. He was a beloved husband, father of two teenage children, and a respected associate minister at Westside Missionary Baptist Church.
McGary was apprehended at the scene as he attempted to flee. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, assault, and two counts of armed criminal action. In March 2020, McGary pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the death of Demetrius Stewart. The tragic and senseless death of Stewart, a man remembered for his dedication to his family and community, highlighted the devastating impact of gun violence.
