On the evening of April 2, 2015, a violent incident unfolded in the north side of St. Louis, Missouri, resulting in the death of 37-year-old Black male Leron Johnson. The shooting occurred around 8:22 p.m. in the 5000 block of Cates Avenue, a residential area in the Academy neighborhood. Johnson was outside when he sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
Emergency responders transported him to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The attack also involved a second victim, a 30-year-old man who was found nearby in the 900 block of North Kingshighway. Although this survivor was initially uncooperative with investigators, police determined that he had been shot during the same incident on Cates Avenue. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest as well but was listed in serious and stable condition after being taken to an area hospital.
Detectives from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department launched a homicide investigation immediately following the violence. According to witness statements provided to the police, a 23-year-old man who was visiting a friend in the area reported that two men approached the vehicle he was in and opened fire. This witness told officers he retrieved his own firearm and returned fire before fleeing the scene to call for help. Despite these details, reports following the incident indicated that no suspects were immediately taken into custody, and the case was later highlighted in media discussions regarding unsolved homicides in the region.
