Story to watch: Teens beat motorist to death with hammers in St. Louis

Greg P. | 9:14 PM on November 30, 2014

Here’s a horrific news story we’re following out of St. Louis, Mo. that could develop into something with national implications:

2 teens in custody after beating man to death with hammers Sunday in St. Louis. Teens hit man’s vehicle and when he got out attacked him.

— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) November 30, 2014

More from the St. Louis Post Dispatch:

A 32-year-old man was beaten to death with hammers by at least two teens early Sunday morning on Itaska Street.

The victim was identified as Zemir Begic, 32, of the 4200 block of Miami Street. He had injuries to his head, abdomen, face and mouth. He was taken to St. Louis University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Begic was in his vehicle in the 4200 block of Itaska about 1:15 a.m. when several juveniles approached on foot and began damaging it. Begic got out and the juveniles began yelling at him and striking him with hammers. Two male juveniles, 16 and 15, were taken into custody.

KPLR 11 has more on the two who were arrested, as well as a description of two other individuals wanted by the police:

Two were caught and taken into juvenile custody. Police are still searching for two others, a 16-year-old black male and a 15-year-old Hispanic.

A crowd gathered in Begic’s neighborhood, with police on the scene in riot gear:

Protest in St Louis over murdered Bosnian man. RT @AkifCogo: Heavy presence of police in riot gear. #SouthSTL pic.twitter.com/k90jCOiQuY

— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) December 1, 2014

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Sam Dotson was in attendance as well:

https://twitter.com/ChiefSLMPD/status/539218765263953920

Victim of fatal hammer attack, Zemir Behic, 32. @ChiefSLMPD addressed crowd of abt 75, saying 2 juveniles in custody. pic.twitter.com/xVMkBH3EKN

— Joel Currier (@joelcurrier) December 1, 2014

From a bit ago: @ChiefSLMPD briefs residents on investigation into hammer attack. "You got my attention," he said. pic.twitter.com/eKk7fUh6ts

— Joel Currier (@joelcurrier) December 1, 2014

Many on Twitter are asking why the media is not covering the attack:

https://twitter.com/patmahomes/status/539236523879989248

https://twitter.com/BH_Dragons/status/539233372858753025

https://twitter.com/LejlaO17/status/539230599219642368

Police have yet to release a motive for the attack or report if there’s a link between the attack and the ongoing protests over the shooting death of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson.

Begic is reported to have been recently married. Heartbreaking:

https://twitter.com/joelcurrier/status/539236541894512641

https://twitter.com/BH_Dragons/status/539237302867095552

https://twitter.com/BH_Dragons/status/539228255598170112

R.I.P.

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Twitchy coverage of Ferguson here.