ST. LOUIS — Gun violence interrupted a busy summer night in Downtown St. Louis over the weekend.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigating a number of shootings that broke out Saturday night.
According to SLMPD, a man died Sunday morning after being shot in the head around 4:30 a.m. at 16th Street and Washington Ave.
Three 22-year-olds were shot just steps away from Broadway Oyster Bar and Billy's on Broadway.
It happened just before 8:30 p.m. at South 4th Street and Gratiot St.
Police at the scene noted that one man was shot multiple times and would not survive his injuries. A second man was shot in the back and rushed to the hospital for surgery and a third man was also taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg.
As she recapped the crime, crime prevention advocate Precious Jones broke down in tears, the first time in a long time.
"We have to save our community and save our village because this is not the way," she said.
Jones was still recovering from the other day when shots were fired after a meeting to put good into the community in O'Fallon Park.
"Myself and another community member and state rep Collins and we ended up having to run for our life in bushes with two kids"
Grief for Jones goes deep - after losing her son, her nephew, and her brother all in four years.
Those incidents are what led her to start her non-profit Breaking Generational Poverty.
"I was like God has put me in position and in place to where I can do it and I'm just like I don't even understand."
Jones recalled summers without crime in Missouri and support from the neighborhood.
"If your mother or something was at work and the neighbor cooked. You could go there and get a bowl of chili. They don't have that now."
Breaking Generational Poverty organizes mentoring for youth, hosts events, and collaborates with other organizations with similar missions.
Jones said that she added a section to her website as key elections approach for those who want to get their names on the ballot to become a politician and become a part of the electoral process.
She also stressed the importance of organizations teaming up to work against violence.
"We have to do something and we have to be consistent," she added.
St. Louis Gun Violence Events coming up:
Stop the Violence Basketball Game:
- Monday, June 17
- 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- McCluer North High School
- Breaking Generational Poverty is looking for vendors, and it is free of charge.
Town Hall Meeting to discuss Gun Violence:
- Thursday, June 20
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- 2677 Dunn Rd. St. Louis, MO 63136
- Hosted by Senator Mosley
Top St. Louis headlines
Get the latest news and details throughout the St. Louis area from 5 On Your Side broadcasts here.