A talented and beloved athlete from St. Louis, Rashad Naeem Shands was remembered by loved ones for his outspoken and protective nature, his wonderful sense of humor, and for being a faithful man who spoke his truth. Known to friends and family as “Shiek,” the 34-year-old Black man had been a standout athlete at Sumner High School, where he played on both the varsity basketball and football teams. His death left a void in the lives of his family, including children who continued to post messages of love and remembrance for their father years after he was gone.
On the afternoon of December 4, 2014, Rashad was a passenger in a car driving through the north St. Louis neighborhood of The Ville. At about 4:15 p.m., as the vehicle traveled along the 4500 block of Page Boulevard, another car suddenly pulled up alongside it. Without warning, at least one person from inside the second vehicle opened fire, spraying Rashad’s car with bullets. The attack shattered the late afternoon calm and sent the driver scrambling for safety.
Rashad was struck by the gunfire, as were two other people in the car with him. The driver sped away from the scene of the ambush, trying to get the wounded to a hospital. They stopped about a mile away, at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Windsor Place, to get help. When emergency services arrived, they found three victims. Rashad, who lived in the 4500 block of Newberry Terrace, was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The other two victims, a man and a woman, were also transported to hospitals for treatment. The man was listed in critical but stable condition, while the woman was in serious but stable condition. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s homicide unit immediately launched an investigation into the triple shooting. Detectives processed the crime scene on Page Boulevard, searching for shell casings and any other evidence that might point to the identity of the shooter or the vehicle they used.
In the initial aftermath of the shooting, police did not release a description of any suspects or the car involved in the attack. No arrests were announced in the days and weeks that followed, and the case grew cold. The motive for the shooting was never publicly released by investigators, leaving Rashad's family and community without answers as to why he was targeted. The case remains unsolved, one of many homicides in St. Louis that have left families waiting for justice.
Years after his death, Rashad Shands is still mourned by those who knew and loved him. His profile on the National Gun Violence Memorial is filled with candles and messages from family, including his children, expressing how deeply he is missed. "I love you and miss you so much Rashad," one message reads. "It hurts so bad that you are not here." As of late 2024, his murder remains unsolved, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has not publicly identified any persons of interest.
