On the evening of May 24, 2025, what began as a birthday celebration for Johnisha Hillard in St. Louis, Missouri, ended in a devastating tragedy. While riding in a car with their four children, Richard Neal Jr. and Hillard were ambushed by gunfire. The family had been on their way to get gas when a maroon sedan, with which they had a near-collision minutes earlier, reappeared.
Someone inside the sedan opened fire on the family's vehicle near the intersection of Bircher Boulevard and Ruskin Avenue. The random act of violence, believed by the family to be an instance of road rage, claimed the life of their 9-year-old son, Jordan Neal, a male who had overcome significant health challenges since birth.
Jordan, who was born prematurely and with cerebral palsy, died from his injuries shortly after the shooting. His father, Richard Neal Jr., was shot in the leg, and his 10-year-old brother, Richard Neal III, was critically injured. Months later, on October 28, 2025, Richard Neal III also succumbed to complications from the injuries he sustained in the May shooting, adding another layer of grief for the Neal family. The incident occurred on what was his mother's 29th birthday, a day that will now forever be entwined with the memory of this horrific loss.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the shooting. However, the investigation has been hampered by a lack of leads. The area where the shooting took place reportedly has few surveillance cameras, and police have received very few tips from the public. Authorities have been searching for a maroon Nissan sedan believed to be connected to the shooting but have been unable to obtain a clear image or identify the occupants. As of late 2025, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Neal family has made public pleas for anyone with information to come forward to help bring justice for their two young sons whose lives were senselessly cut short.
