Major Case Squad investigating shooting death of Belleville 16-year-old
A 16-year-old boy was killed Wednesday evening on West Washington Street in Belleville.
Belleville police were alerted to shots being fired at about 5:35 p.m., Belleville Assistant Police Chief Matt Eiskant said.
Demauryon Smith, of Belleville, was able to speak to police and may have identified his shooter. But he was transported to Memorial Hospital then airlifted to a St. Louis hospital, where he later died.
“At the hospital, they enacted life-saving measures to try to save the victim,” Eiskant said. “Unfortunately they were not able to save him.”
The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated at 10:30 p.m., Eiskant said. More than 20 investigators are working to determine what happened and possible motives.
Eiskant, who is deputy commander of the Major Case Squad said police believe Smith and the shooter “were known to each other.”
“Unlike many homicides we work, we were able to speak to the victim and were able to get vital information for the case,” Eiskant said.
Police are reaching out to Smith’s family and friends to learn more about his life and activities, said Eiskant.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 11:59 AM.
