MO State HS Sports

16 people shot, 2 fatally, in violent St. Louis weekend

(AP) – Authorities say at least 16 people were shot over the weekend in 10 separate incidents in St. Louis, two of them fatally.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the victims included a woman who was slain in an alley Saturday afternoon. In another Saturday shooting, one person was killed and four others were wounded inside a van.

Police say two also were wounded near a light-rail station, and a 17-year-old was shot in the leg while playing basketball. The police department released few details about the shootings. A department spokeswoman said officers will provide more information Monday.

The shootings happened on the same weekend that Police Chief John Hayden appeared at a crime prevention summit to say crime was in retreat.

A teen sports standout featured in a Sports Illustrated article about young athletes who would rule the future of sports has been fatally shot.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch quoted police as saying that Jaylon McKenzie, an East St. Louis eighth grader, was shot Saturday night at a party in Venice, Illinois, about 5 miles (8.05 kilometers) northeast of St. Louis.

Police say they found McKenzie with serious wounds and he died at a hospital. A 15-year-old girl was in critical condition at a hospital. No arrests have been made.

McKenzie drew national attention when he caught five passes for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns at the NFL’s 8th Grade All-American Game in Canton, Ohio, in August. He posted on social media that he had received football scholarship from the University of Missouri and University of Illinois. He told Sports Illustrated his dream was to play in the NFL and be a star in Los Angeles for the Chargers or Rams.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *