ST. LOUIS — Two men are facing charges two months after a shooting left one person dead and two others injured.
According to charging documents, police said 20-year-old Brayan Rodriguez-Banegas was the one who fired the shots, and 27-year-old Alfredo Canales-Ordonez tried to help cover up the crime by helping Rodriguez-Banegas and threatening one of the victims and a witness.
Police said they were called to a home on the 4400 block of Grace Avenue on July 7 for a report of a shooting. When they arrived, they found a man unresponsive from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting and was later identified as Denis Perez-Canales. Two other people were also injured in the shooting and were driven to the hospital.
During the investigation, police found that Rodriguez-Banegas was at a party at the location when he got into a fight. Police said witnesses told them that Rodriguez-Banegas pulled out a gun and shot Perez-Canales and two others.
Police said witnesses identified the shooter as Rodriguez-Banegas, but he left the area before police could arrive. Police said he later left the state but was taken into custody on Sept. 5.
According to charging documents, Canales-Ordonez helped Rodriguez-Banegas hide from police on the day of his arrest. The charging documents said between the time of the shooting and Sept. 8, he sent threatening messages to a witness and a victim.
Police said when they searched Canales-Ordonez's home, they found a dog locked in a crate with no food or clean water. Neighbors told police they had not seen anyone at the house for days.
Rodriguez-Banegas was charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and three counts of armed criminal action. He is being held without bond. Police said he was in the country illegally but did not provide additional details.
Canales-Ordonez was charged with tampering with a witness in a felony prosecution, hindering prosecution of a felony and animal abuse. He is being held without bond.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) is a community-based clinic in St. Louis that helps people heal after they have been injured by a bullet. The BRIC was established to help people who are discharged from the emergency department after being shot.
