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'To find out he's not even coming home is really hard': Family speaks out after homeless man found dead outside in St. Louis

Family, neighbors, and local business owners on South Grand Boulevard said the man used to sleep on the doorstep of the Grand Medical Building all the time.

ST. LOUIS — A man was found dead in St. Louis' Dutchtown neighborhood on Friday, under some unusual circumstances. Police are investigating the man's death as a homicide, more than 24 hours after he was found by the fire department.

5 On Your Side spoke exclusively with the man's sister, Rosalyn Terry, who said his name was Rion Robinson. She learned of Robinson's death yesterday morning after a friend saw a man who looked a lot like Robinson on a Facebook post. 

St. Louis Fire Department responded to a "life status unknown" call at 8:51 a.m. on Friday near the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Walsh Street. The man they found was pronounced dead at the scene. 

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Neighbors and local business owners said the same man used to sleep on the doorstep of the Grand Medical Building in the area all the time. People in the community said he was a familiar face on South Grand Blvd.

Initially believed to have been caused by the frigid temperatures over the last few days, St. Louis Police are now investigating it as a homicide. Gunshot wounds were found on the body, leaving both local business owners and neighbors confused.

Robinson (right) pictured with his father:

Credit: Rosalyn Terry
Shooting victim Rion Robinson (right) with this father.

Known by many nicknames, such as "Nerf Guy" because of the Nerf gun he typically carried around, he frequented a local Domino's Pizza shop asking for messed-up pizzas or hoping to get warm. Employees said he never bothered anybody inside and they didn't hear gunshots on Friday.

"It was kind of bittersweet because we don't really know him," Domino's Assistant Manager Devonte Hobbs said. "We don't know the backstory but just like to my knowledge he was really bothering anyone out here or hurting anybody."

Trying to get Robinson to come home for two years, Terry said he was homeless and she hadn't seen her brother in months.

"It's been really hard on us," Terry said. "I'd say 'Will you please come home? Come home. I've got an apartment, I'm never there. You can get warm. You can take a bath. There is food there, whatever. Just please come home.'" 

Also losing her mother about a month ago, Terry said emotionally she doesn't know if she's coming or going after so many successive deaths in her family. She called the medical examiner on Friday morning after she saw the social media post that looked like her brother, identifying him over the phone and giving the same name the office had from police.

"He would never come home," Terry said." He would just say, can you feed me and buy me some snacks? He wouldn't even ask for the money. He would just say feed me and buy me some snacks."

Food and shelter were additionally provided by nearby shops. 

"He was just walking around with his toy gun, that's about it," Hobbs said. "As far as when you get outside or away from Domino's, I'm not sure but he didn't bother none of the workers here."

In terms of a cause of death, Terry said police are saying he didn't die from the cold. 

"Why would someone leave him out there?" Terry said. "No shoes. No coat. Just leave him out there, like why? Just look at it like it's one of your family members."

As the investigation continues, the victim's sister asked if you have any information about what happened to her brother, to please contact the police. People can also contact Crimestoppers at 866-371-TIPS.

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