In the early morning hours of July 3, 2022, a promising life was tragically cut short in downtown St. Louis. Damion Baker, a 25-year-old male, was fatally shot in what has been described as a carjacking gone wrong. The incident unfolded around 3:14 a.m. in the 800 block of Cerre Street, an area near Busch Stadium known for its nightlife. Baker, a former standout football player for Christian Brothers College High School and Holy Cross, was with a 21-year-old woman when the violence erupted.
According to police reports, the couple was confronted by an individual who attempted to steal their SUV. As a struggle ensued between Baker and the carjacker, another person opened fire, striking both Baker and his companion multiple times. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found Baker with gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The young woman with him was also shot, sustaining injuries to her legs and feet, but she survived.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the St. Louis community was left in mourning. Baker was remembered as a talented athlete who had been a key player on CBC's undefeated 2014 state championship football team. His former teammates and coaches recalled him not just for his athletic prowess, but for his character off the field. The tragic loss also prompted renewed calls for an end to the gun violence plaguing the city.
Despite the passage of time, Damion Baker's murder remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made in connection with the case. His mother, An'namarie Baker, has been a vocal advocate for justice, pleading for anyone with information to come forward. In her son's memory, she established the Debank Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting construction trade education for underserved youth, a passion Damion had expressed before his death. The family continues to hope that those responsible for Damion's death will be brought to justice.
