Makao Moore, a 17-year-old male, was killed in a mass shooting that erupted during a party in a downtown St. Louis office building on June 18, 2023. The event, held on the fifth floor of a building on Washington Avenue, was attended by a large number of teenagers and young adults.
The party, which had been promoted on social media, descended into chaos shortly after 1 a.m. when gunfire broke out. The scene was one of panic, with attendees scrambling for safety.
In the aftermath, police discovered a grim scene littered with liquor bottles and shell casings from various firearms, including handguns and AR-style rifles. In total, ten teenagers, ranging in age from 15 to 19, suffered gunshot wounds. Another teenage girl was injured after being trampled in the rush to escape. Makao Moore was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police took a 17-year-old male into custody and turned him over to juvenile authorities. However, he was later released from custody as the investigation continued. Authorities indicated that they were looking for other potential suspects and planned to release surveillance photos to the public.
Later, in August 2023, a 16-year-old male was arrested in connection with the mass shooting. He was accused of shooting one of the surviving victims and was taken to the St. Louis County Juvenile Detention Center on an assault charge. The investigation into the shooting that led to Makao Moore's death is ongoing, with police continuing to search for several other individuals believed to be involved.
