In the midst of a violent 24-hour period that saw six homicides in St. Louis, Missouri, 25-year-old Tamella Buchanan, a Black female, was found dead on Sunday, September 23, 2018. Her body was discovered inside a vehicle in the 2800 block of North Taylor Avenue, where she had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
A mother to a young son, Buchanan was remembered by loved ones as a joyful and devoted parent. Her twin sister described her as a constant source of support.
The tragic discovery of her death was compounded by another loss that same day. Her boyfriend of six years, 22-year-old Louis Bishop, was also found deceased. He had been shot multiple times in a vacant lot in the 3000 block of Marcus Avenue, less than a mile from where Buchanan's body was located.
The proximity in time and location of the two deaths raised immediate questions about a possible connection. However, investigators from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have not publicly confirmed whether the two homicides are related. In the initial stages of the investigation, the police chief noted that drugs were a factor in several of the homicides that occurred during that violent weekend, though it is unclear if they played a role in Buchanan's death.
Despite the passage of time, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Tamella Buchanan. Her case, along with the killing of her boyfriend, remains an open and unsolved investigation. The lack of resolution has left her family and community seeking answers and justice for the young mother's untimely and violent death. Authorities have encouraged anyone with information to come forward, but as of now, the person or persons responsible for her death have not been brought to justice.
