At least three people were killed and four were injured Monday night in a shooting in St. Louis' Greater Ville neighborhood.
Police found the bodies of two men with multiple gunshot wounds near a curb outside a convenience store around 7:30 p.m., spokesperson Evita Caldwell told USA TODAY. A third body was found in a nearby schoolyard with gunshot wounds to his torso.
Police identified the victims as Kevin Page, 40; Charlie Anderson, 31; and OJ Pernell, 44. All three are from the St. Louis area and were pronounced dead at the scene, according to a tweet from police.
"We wake up with heavy hearts after the shooting in the Greater Ville last night. We pray for the victims and their families," Mayor Tishaura Jones said on Twitter. "After decades of neglect, I’m committed to reinvesting in North City to address root causes of crime. More resources make our communities safer."
More on Tishaura Jones:She wants to reimagine policing in St. Louis. With rising crime and a push to 'defund,' can she do it?
Police Chief John Hayden said Monday during a news conference that there is no known motive for the shooting.
Four people, ages 28 to 47, were found with gunshot wounds.
A man inside a nearby business had wounds to his torso and legs. He was taken to a nearby hospital and was in critical but stable condition, Caldwell said.
Another person taken to a hospital was in critical but stable condition, and a man shot in his arm drove himself to a hospital and was stable. The seventh victim was treated for a gunshot graze to his back and released, Caldwell said.
"All I know is my brother is gone and I will never see him again," Keith Pernell told KTVI.
Residents told the outlet Page owned the convenience store.
Hayden said officers canvassed the area and looked for surveillance video of the shooting. Social workers were on the scene with family members.
"It's very early in the investigation," he said.
St. Louis saw a near-record number of 262 killings last year and is on a similar pace in 2021. The city has repeatedly reported the highest murder rate among U.S. cities in recent years, according to federal data.
Contributing: Grace Hauck, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
Contact News NOW Reporter Christine Fernando at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.
