On the evening of April 22, 2015, a sense of disbelief fell over the St. Louis Job Corps Center when 21-year-old Matthew Anderson was found shot in his dormitory bed. A new arrival, having been at the center for only a day, his life was abruptly ended by a single gunshot to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The hours that followed were filled with confusion and fear as police locked down the campus, carefully searching the grounds and interviewing the hundreds of students
residing there. It wasn't long before their investigation pointed to another student, 20-year-old Matthew Carlock. He, too, was new to the Job Corps program, having been there for just nine days.
Following the shooting, Carlock fled the campus, initiating a search by law enforcement. However, he later surrendered to authorities. Investigators began to piece together the events of that tragic evening, reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses. While a clear motive for the shooting was not immediately released, it was a senseless act of violence that cut a young life short.
Matthew Carlock was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Matthew Anderson's death. He was held on a $1 million bond. The incident left the community and those at the Job Corps Center grappling with the sudden loss and the unsettling reality of violence in a place meant for education and opportunity.
