On the afternoon of May 25, 2022, a violent incident occurred in the Walnut Park West neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, claiming the life of an 18-year-old male named Matthew Curtis-Lee Johnson Jr. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department received a call regarding shots fired at approximately 4:45 p.m. and dispatched officers to the 6000 block of Lucille Avenue.
Upon arriving in the area, authorities were flagged down by individuals at the scene who alerted them that a person had been struck by gunfire inside a nearby residence.
When officers entered the home, which was located on the same block where the victim reportedly lived, they discovered Johnson unconscious and not breathing, suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel responded to the location to render aid, but the victim had already succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The area was subsequently secured as homicide detectives began their examination of the evidence to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
In the aftermath of the killing, investigators launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death, but initial reports did not indicate that any suspects were immediately identified or apprehended. There were no records of arrests or charges filed in connection with the case in the period following the incident. Police urged anyone with knowledge of the crime to contact the Homicide Division or provide anonymous tips through CrimeStoppers to assist in the ongoing investigation.
