On the night of August 10, 2014, police in St. Louis, Missouri, were called to a residence in the Marine Villa neighborhood regarding a violent disturbance. Kelvin L. Dawson, a 50-year-old male, was inside a home on the 3600 block of Salena Street with friends when the incident occurred. Around 10:30 p.m., an intruder entered the property and opened fire, striking Dawson multiple times in the upper torso. Emergency responders transported him to a local hospital for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
Investigators with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department launched a homicide inquiry, examining the scene where Dawson, known affectionately to friends as 'Big Mike,' had been gunned down. The investigation revealed that the assailant had come to the residence specifically to target the victim. While details regarding the exact motive were initially unclear, detectives gathered evidence that pointed toward a specific individual who had allegedly entered the home to commit the crime.
Months after the shooting, in October 2014, authorities announced a breakthrough in the case. Prosecutors charged 36-year-old Shawn Morgan with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with Dawson's death. Law enforcement officials stated that Morgan was the individual who had entered the home on Salena Street and fatally shot Dawson. Following the charges, Morgan was ordered to be held without bond as the legal proceedings commenced.
