Maurice Partlow, a 40-year-old Black male, tragically lost his life on a summer evening in St. Louis, Missouri. On July 13, 2016, what began as a confrontation escalated into a fatal act of violence that would also claim the life of his girlfriend, 38-year-old Jacara Sproaps, a beloved elementary school principal. The couple was outside a home on Miami Street when they were approached by Sproaps' ex-boyfriend, Maurice Hoskins.
An argument ensued, quickly turning physical as the three struggled over a handgun Hoskins had produced.
The struggle ended in the worst possible way when Hoskins fired the weapon, shooting Partlow twice in the head. In the chaotic moments that followed, Sproaps and her 18-year-old son, who had witnessed the horrific event, attempted to flee. Hoskins, however, pursued them, firing multiple shots. Sproaps was struck in the back of the head and collapsed in a nearby alley. Her son, in a desperate attempt to save her, was also shot in the side as he tried to carry her to safety.
The violence did not end there. As uniformed police officers arrived at the scene, Hoskins opened fire on them as well, grazing one of the officers. The immediate aftermath left Maurice Partlow and Jacara Sproaps deceased at the scene, while her son was rushed to the hospital with serious internal injuries, which he ultimately survived. The responding officer who was shot sustained a graze wound.
The investigation swiftly led to the identification and arrest of Maurice Hoskins. In February 2019, to avoid a trial, Hoskins accepted a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, in addition to three counts of first-degree assault and five counts of armed criminal action. As a result of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 20 years, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his life incarcerated for the devastating events of that July evening.
