On a spring morning in St. Louis, Missouri, 27-year-old Alex Boschert was diligently at work. It was April 20, 2017, and the Laclede Gas employee, a white male, was part of a crew working on a gas line in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood. Remembered by his family as a hardworking young man who cherished the outdoors and treasured his loved ones, Boschert had recently become a father, adding a new chapter to his life.
The day took a tragic and unforeseen turn around 11:16 a.m. on Minerva Avenue. As Boschert and his 52-year-old colleague, William Froelich, were occupied with their tasks—one on a backhoe and the other in a ditch—they were approached by a man named Clinton Willis. Without any apparent warning or provocation, the 51-year-old opened fire on the two utility workers. The attack was so sudden that neither Boschert nor Froelich had time to react.
In the immediate aftermath, a witness reported hearing at least four gunshots before seeing the gunman take his own life. When police arrived, they found a grim scene. Both Boschert and Froelich had sustained fatal injuries. Willis was also deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, his handgun recovered at the location. Because the perpetrator died at the scene, there were no arrests made in connection with the double homicide.
Investigators delved into Willis's background to uncover a motive for the senseless act of violence. It was discovered that he had a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for drug trafficking and assault. Initial speculation suggested the shooting might have been related to an unpaid electric bill, but the utility company, Ameren Missouri, confirmed that Willis's account was not under threat of disconnection. Police ultimately stated that they did not believe the shooting was racially motivated, as the shooter was Black and the victims were white. The true reason for the attack remains a mystery, leaving a community to mourn the tragic and untimely deaths of two men who were simply doing their jobs. The profound loss was deeply felt, particularly by Boschert's family, who remembered him as a loving husband, father, son, and brother who adored his family and friends.
