A relatively small group convened in the Bevo neighborhood of St. Louis Monday afternoon to hold a vigil for Zemir Begic, who was attacked and killed Sunday by a group of teenagers wielding hammers.
Crowd gathering at vigil for Zemir Begic, who was killed in hammer attack. #STL pic.twitter.com/KYxQ38NZVf
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) December 1, 2014
Man talking about the Bosnian wars of the 1990s. People gathered in community to remember Zemir Begic. #stl pic.twitter.com/1FZq0rWR69
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) December 1, 2014
"You are part of the American Dream," man tells Bosnians in Bevo for Begic. "Because of you St. Louis is better." pic.twitter.com/CqnrfH8Nqf
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) December 1, 2014
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Sam Dotson was on hand to help reassure the group.
"You have my commitment that we will be here to make things better," Chief Dotson tells Bosnian group in Bevo for #ZemirBegic
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) December 1, 2014
#STL Chief Dotson says "This is exactly what we want to see in our neighborhoods," referencing group support pic.twitter.com/OlJKiGfGDC
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) December 1, 2014
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https://twitter.com/ChiefSLMPD/status/539218765263953920
Chief Dotson says adult charges have been issued against one teen for 1st degree murder and armed action in #ZemirBegic hammer death.
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) December 1, 2014
Dotson said more than one hammer was used in #ZemirBegic murder, but could not say how many because charges have just been issued.
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) December 1, 2014
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay had met with the family of Begic earlier.
Quick arrests by @SLMPD in the murder of Zemir Begic. Investigation is ongoing. Seems unrelated to protests. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) December 1, 2014
Earlier today, I extended my personal sympathies to Zemir Begic's family. Our city mourns with them. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) December 1, 2014
An innocent life was savagely taken. Lives of countless others have been ruined by this random and senseless violence. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) December 1, 2014
The @SLMPD has, so far, arrested three teens. This is not a juvenile crime. It is a an adult crime and should be treated as one. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) December 1, 2014
.@ChiefSLMPD assures that he and his command staff will review patrol patterns in the Bevo area. That is prudent. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) December 1, 2014
Again, Slay emphasized that he believes the attack had no connection to the Ferguson protests, nor was it racially motivated.
#STL Mayor Slay says claims that Begic hammer attack was racial or related to #Ferguson are unfounded.
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) December 1, 2014
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that police arrested two teen suspects, one Hispanic and one black, on Sunday, and a third suspect turned himself into police Sunday night. Police have one other suspect who has not yet been arrested. The oldest suspect in custody is just 17.
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