On the morning of October 2, 2022, a violent incident unfolded in the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood of Saint Louis, Missouri, claiming the life of Charles Laroy Edwards Jr., a 31-year-old Black male. Affectionately known to his friends and family as 'Charlie Wop,' Edwards was discovered by local authorities lying on the ground in the 1600 block of Arlington Avenue.
Officers arrived at the scene to find him suffering from puncture wounds that were later identified as gunshot injuries to his ankle and side. Despite the immediate response, he was pronounced dead at the location, leaving his loved ones and the community to mourn his sudden passing.
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Division launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, seeking to piece together the events that led to Edwards' death. Early reports indicated that he had been found in the morning hours, but details regarding the motive or the specific sequence of the altercation remained scarce. Edwards was remembered by those who knew him as a vibrant personality who enjoyed music and dancing, often described as the life of the party. He was a father to two daughters and had deep ties to the area, having been educated in the St. Louis Public School system.
Despite the ongoing efforts of detectives to uncover leads, no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the homicide. As of the last available updates, there have been no arrests made, and the case has remained open with investigators urging anyone with information to come forward. The lack of a named suspect or filing of charges has left the case unresolved, adding to the grief of a family still seeking justice for the loss of their son, father, and partner.
