On June 9, 2016, tragedy struck the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, when police were summoned to a grim scene in the 1300 block of Burd Avenue. Officers arriving at the location discovered two individuals who had been fatally wounded. Among the victims was 30-year-old Black male Damion Markiese Alton Sr., who had been found alongside another man, identified as Kenneth Reed.
Both men had suffered gunshot wounds, with reports indicating they were shot in the back of the head in what appeared to be an execution-style killing.
Witnesses in the vicinity at the time of the incident reported seeing two unidentified men fleeing the area on foot shortly after the shots rang out. A blue sedan of an unknown make and model was also observed parked near the scene around the time the homicide occurred, becoming a point of interest for investigators. Despite the immediate response and the collection of evidence at the scene, the individuals responsible for the violence managed to escape before law enforcement could apprehend them.
In the years following the double homicide, the case has remained an open investigation for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Detectives and CrimeStoppers have issued multiple pleas to the public, offering rewards for information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. The investigation has faced significant hurdles, with few actionable leads surfacing regarding the two subjects seen running from the block or the vehicle spotted nearby. As of late 2025, no arrests had been made in connection with the deaths, leaving the case officially unsolved.
Friends and family remember Damion, known affectionately as 'D-black' or 'Damo,' as a loyal friend and a dedicated father to two children. Tributes described him as a hard worker and a 'good dude' who was deeply loved by his community. His death, along with that of Kenneth Reed, remains a painful unsolved chapter for the neighborhood, with loved ones continuing to seek justice for the loss of life that occurred on that summer day.
