On October 2, 2018, the life of a 62-year-old African American man named Leroy Hunt Jr. came to a violent end on the streets of St. Louis, Missouri. The incident occurred late in the evening in the city's North Side, a community that had been grappling with a surge of violence around that time. Hunt was present near the 4200 block of West Cote Brilliante Avenue, walking along the street just before midnight.
He was accompanied by a 39-year-old acquaintance, and the two men were making their way through the neighborhood when the quiet of the night was suddenly shattered by the arrival of an unfamiliar vehicle.
A black car with heavily tinted windows pulled up near the two men, slowing down as it approached them. Without warning, an occupant inside the vehicle opened fire, unleashing a barrage of bullets toward Hunt and his companion. The sudden ambush sparked panic, and both men attempted to flee the scene to escape the gunfire. While the younger man managed to escape uninjured, Hunt was struck by the rounds. He collapsed onto the pavement as the vehicle sped away into the darkness, leaving him critically wounded on the ground.
Emergency responders and law enforcement arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting was reported, finding Hunt lying on the street. Despite their presence, he had already succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the location. Police investigators began canvassing the area for evidence and witnesses, noting the description of the black car with tinted windows as a key lead. In the immediate aftermath of the homicide, which happened on a night marred by other violent incidents in the city, authorities did not report any immediate arrests or name specific suspects. The assailant behind the wheel and the shooter remained at large as detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the senseless killing.
