ST. LOUIS — A shooting late Tuesday night in south St. Louis left a teenage girl dead.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded at about 11 p.m. Tuesday to a shooting at an apartment building in the 2700 block of Miami Street, located in the city's Gravois Park neighborhood. There, a 15-year-old girl was found unconscious and not breathing after being shot in the head.
Police said the teen was taken to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She was identified as Dornae Hayes of Hazelwood, Missouri.
Neighbors and family showed up to the scene who were visibly upset, one of them saying ten shots rang out before police came to the scene.
At the scene, 5 On Your Side saw two people being detained. Police say they have not made any arrests yet.
The property manager of the building where the shooting took place said he saw an argument happen before the shooting. He said he just finished remolding the building, and the property had been damaged in the shooting.
"We got a call from a tenant saying that there were 30 gunshots outside, and (Hayes) was shot in the head on the back porch" said the property manager, who didn't want to be named.
He said Hayes was charging her phone right outside one of his units when the gunfire came from a nearby alleyway and from Iowa Street.
"Shootings happen in South St. Louis all over. I just happen to be here and just random. I mean, why was she our deck charging on her phone? I guess her building or wherever where her parents live didn't have any power," he said.
The charger was still plugged in the outlet Wednesday, with bullet holes all around the door to the apartment unit. There were even footprints on the door where the property manager said somebody tried kicking the door down to escape the gunfire.
The property manager said, "I just don't understand. When I was 15, 16 years old, I was riding bicycles or playing basketball soccer. These days kids are carrying guns up and down the street. Different world."
At the scene overnight, 5 On Your Side saw at least 12 evidence markers in the street and eight on a fence near an alleyway earlier today.
5 On Your Side asked the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department on Wednesday during its weekly crime briefing what the department is doing to help curb violence among teens in St. Louis.
"We have different programs. We have our police athletic league, or PAL, where many of our officers volunteer their time to coach. We also partner with the Department of Public Safety and their Office of Violence Prevention," Sgt. Charles Wall said.
The Homicide Division assumed the ongoing investigation.
This marks the city's second child homicide and 68th homicide overall in 2024, according to 5 On Your Side data.
"It's horrible," said Major Michael Mueller, the Commander of Investigative Services for St. Louis police. "It's a horrible incident anytime anybody dies, but especially a 15-year-old child. I mean, we all have children, and it's just a very tragic incident,"
Investigators are working on figuring out a motive for this shooting, but it's still under investigation right now.
Police have not said if Dornae Hayes was an innocent bystander or if she was targeted.
Anyone with information regarding the deadly shooting was asked to contact the Homicide Division directly at 314-444-5371. To remain anonymous, contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
This is a breaking news story. 5 On Your Side will update it as more information becomes available.
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 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.
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