In the south city neighborhood of Carondelet, a meeting arranged for the purchase of a gun took a fatal turn for 40-year-old Charles Brown, a male resident of the 6500 block of Minnesota Avenue. On the afternoon of December 18, Brown went to an alley to complete the transaction. He was met by two individuals wearing black clothing and ski masks. After Brown handed over the money for the firearm, he was shot in the abdomen by a third person who was with the other two men.
Despite his
critical injuries, Brown was able to communicate with police officers who arrived at the scene around 2:40 p.m. He described his assailants before being rushed to the hospital. For twelve days, he fought for his life, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries on December 30. His death marked another homicide in the city of St. Louis.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to a suspect. A 20-year-old man, Juan D. Harris, of the 300 block of Krauss Street in St. Louis, was later arrested in connection with the fatal shooting. The Circuit Attorney's Office has since charged Harris with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for his alleged role in the death of Charles Brown. Court documents indicate that Harris and another, unnamed individual met with Brown for the gun sale that ended in his death. It is not publicly known if the third person involved has been identified or taken into custody.
