Damonte' Hawthorne, a 27-year-old Black male from St. Louis, Missouri, was fatally shot in the early morning hours of May 5, 2024. The incident occurred in the 3200 block of North 20th Street, situated near the boundary between the Hyde Park and Old North St. Louis neighborhoods. St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers responded to a call regarding a shooting at approximately 5:00 a.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered Hawthorne in the street suffering from gunshot wounds. At the time of discovery, he was reported to be conscious and breathing.
Emergency medical services transported Hawthorne to Barnes-Jewish Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Despite medical intervention, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the hospital. Authorities initially identified the victim as a 32-year-old man before confirming his identity as 27-year-old Damonte' Hawthorne, a resident of the 2800 block of Meramec Street. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Division assumed control of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Following the incident, a 27-year-old male suspect fled the scene but later surrendered to authorities at police headquarters. As of the initial reports, police had not released the suspect's name pending formal charges, nor had they disclosed a specific motive for the shooting. The investigation remained ongoing as detectives worked to gather further evidence and clarify the events that led to the fatal altercation.
