ST. LOUIS — A 23-year-old man was charged with murder Tuesday after police said he was caught on video shooting a man in the head in downtown St. Louis Monday afternoon.
Deshawn Thomas was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the Monday shooting.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said shortly before 10 a.m., officers received a call for help regarding a shooting in the 700 block of North Tucker Boulevard. They found David Saldana, a man in his 40s, who had been shot in the head. He was pronounced dead.
A preliminary investigation found that the man was involved in a fight with another man at a nearby Shell gas station shortly before the shooting. According to charging documents, police said Thomas shot the victim in the back. They said the victim then begged for his life, but Thomas loaded his gun and shot Saldana in the head.
Police said Thomas ran from the scene before officers arrived.
At about 2:30 p.m. Monday, a patrol officer saw Thomas in the area and notified district police, who responded and watched as the man entered the St. Louis Public Library on Olive Street. He was taken into custody, and a gun and shell casings were found on him.
A video of the crime was circulating social media on Tuesday.
In the video it shows a man sitting on the curb while another man stands right next to him, as he loads a gun.
After more than 30 seconds of trying to load the firearm, he eventually pulls the trigger, shooting the victim execution style.
Missouri State Senator Ben Brown, a Republican that represents Franklin, Gasconade, Osage, Warren and part of West St. Louis County, was one of the recipients of the disturbing video making its rounds on social media.
"I had somebody that sent it to me, saying that they were just in tears and just asking like, can the Senate do something? It was just blocks from city hall and broad daylight," the state senator said. "There is always going to be crime to some extent but I don't remember ever seeing the kind of boldness that we're seeing right now or people feel they can go out in broad daylight in public and the horrific scene, execute somebody right on the street."
Brown said he's worried about what this can do on multiple levels when it comes to safety.
"St. Louis is for a long time been one of the major economic engines of our state. I don't want that to be what St. Louis and Missouri are known for, we have so much to offer in the state and it's really sad that these are the headlines," Brown said.
He's all for a state intervention when it comes to police control. But not everyone agrees with that idea.
Back in January, 5 On Your Side spoke to State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge (D-St. Louis), now running for St. Louis alderman, who is opposed to the proposal.
"Until we address the root problem of crime, I don't care how many police you put on the street. Until we have those real conversations, and the state invests into St. Louis, we are going to get the same solutions no matter if it's state or local control," he said.
Les Sterman is the Chair of Citizens for a Greater Downtown St. Louis and said he's shocked.
"It’s the brazenness ... time of day ... that there were a lot of people around at the time ... obviously someone taking a video," he noted.
He worries about the downtown Shell gas station that's had hundreds of calls for service since 2019, riddled with multiple shootings and crime activity.
"It's something we've been noting for several years about that particular location," Sterman said.
There are multiple calls of service from Feb. 2019 to Feb. 28, 2023.
Police note that a substantial amount of calls on this list are “29s” “28s” and “39s,” which are self-initiated activity calls by police conducting foot patrols, building checks, and pedestrian checks.
This list may also not capture all incidents as not all calls ping at the exact address of the gas station (e.g., if something happens at the corner where the business sits, it’s likely that the call will ping at the intersection versus an exact address).
While he continues to advocate for the neighborhood he loves and lives in, Sterman also worries about the crimes tainting the town.
He said, "Downtown is actually a wonderful place and we've lived here for 17 years. We walk everywhere and it's a great place to live and it's a shame that things like this happen that stain our reputation."
Mayor Tishaura Jones' officer provided the following statement:
"Mayor Jones is appalled by the blatant act of violence committed in broad daylight against an unhoused man on Monday morning. She appreciates the rapid response from the St. Louis Police Department to apprehend a suspect, and remains committed to bringing together law enforcement, judicial partners, and community organizations to tackle the root causes of crime while holding accountable those who commit it."
The Downtown Neighborhood Association also shared this statement:
While we agree long-term sources of crime such as lax gun laws, poverty, mental health issues, need to be addressed, increased police presence and enforcement is an essential component which is needed. Any approach trying to address this crime problem, will not work if we do one without the other.
St. Louis police's homicide division was requested to handle the shooting investigation.
St. Louis police shared this information with 5 On Your Side:
Discussions are being had to evaluate patrol measures as well as what more can be done and/or implemented to curb crime. We often have relied on assistance from the Sheriff’s Department as well as officers working overtime to provide additional coverage during events or during peak activity hours (weekends, for example). This is in addition to officers who are already assigned to 4th District patrols. We also rely on technology such as our SkyCop mobile cameras which are placed/moved according to crime trends. I believe the Commander of the 4th District has been meeting with businesses and residents in some of these discussions, as well.
According to online court documents, a judge ordered Thomas be held without bond and the suspect has no history of other serious crimes in Missouri.
This is a developing story. 5 On Your Side will update information as it is confirmed.
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.
Cure Violence is an international organization that is present in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities.