In the warm summer evening of July 26, 2012, 16-year-old Kiera D. Tanter was with a group of friends in Gravois Park, located at the intersection of Miami and Louisiana Avenues in St. Louis, Missouri. At approximately 9:15 PM, the gathering was shattered by the sound of multiple gunshots. An unknown individual, or individuals, opened fire on the group, striking five people in a sudden burst of violence.
Kiera and her friend, Ronisha Jackson, were among those critically injured in the
spray of bullets. Emergency services rushed to the scene and both girls were transported to a local hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, both Kiera and Ronisha succumbed to their gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead. The senseless act of violence that claimed their lives sent shockwaves through their families and the wider St. Louis community.
In the years following the tragic shooting, the case has remained unsolved. No arrests have been made in connection with the murders of Kiera Tanter and Ronisha Jackson, and the identity of the person or persons responsible is still unknown. Law enforcement officials have made public appeals for anyone with information to come forward to help bring justice to the victims and their grieving families. St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers has offered a financial reward for any information that leads to an arrest. The community continues to seek answers and closure for the devastating loss of two young lives.
