In the Walnut Park East neighborhood of St. Louis, a simmering frustration between roommates tragically boiled over on a Saturday afternoon, leaving one man dead and the other facing a murder charge. On September 6, 2025, police responded to a call for a shooting in the 5700 block of Henner Avenue just after 6:30 p.m.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered 58-year-old Dwayne Thomas lying in the street with a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene and transported Thomas to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The man who had been his roommate, 54-year-old Marvin Byrd, was found sitting in his vehicle at the scene.
Initially, Byrd attempted to flee but was apprehended by the officers. During questioning, he reportedly told detectives that the shooting was an accident and the culmination of a 'long buildup of frustration' with Thomas. He claimed that Thomas had been verbally 'reckless.' While he first alleged that Thomas had charged at him, he later retracted that statement. The incident was reportedly witnessed by an individual who heard the gunshot and saw Byrd standing over Thomas's body with a gun. The shooting was also captured on a doorbell camera.
St. Louis prosecutors have charged Marvin Byrd with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, and resisting arrest. He is being held without bond pending a court appearance.
