ST. LOUIS — Xavier Usanga, 7, was shot and killed in August.
The shooting happened in the 3500 block of N. 14th Street. He was shot to death in front of his two young sisters.
The scene brought St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief John Hayden to tears during a news conference, a few hours after the shooting.
Alderman Brandon Bosley said Xavier loved to read and ask questions.
"He could have been anything. He could have been mayor. He could have been our next damn president. He had an amazing spirit," said Bosley.
Malik Ross, 23, admitted to firing the shot that killed Xavier. He was in custody on separate charges. Prosecutors didn’t find enough evidence for the murder of Xavier.
CUT SHORT
‘CUT SHORT: Unsolved Killings of St. Louis Children’ is an initiative of KSDK 5 On Your Side and its community outreach program, ‘Project 5,’ to raise awareness of the unchecked violence against children in the city of St. Louis from the summer of 2019 to present.
We’re dedicated to telling their stories, following the criminal investigations and shining a light on the reasons for gun violence in our city. We won’t let up.
Please join us in this important campaign seeking justice for our youth by sharing these stories about their young lives cut short, reaching out to elected officials and supporting the worthy organizations in St. Louis working to make our city’s neighborhoods safer places to raise families.
