On August 12, 2019, seven-year-old Xavier Usanga was playing outside his home on North 14th Street in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Saint‑Louis with his two younger sisters the day before he was to start second grade. A stray bullet struck and fatally wounded him in front of his siblings. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the shooting; the scene profoundly affected the community and reportedly moved the police chief to tears during a press conference. Xavier was remembered as a child who loved reading and had an inquisitive nature.

The investigation focused on 23‑year‑old Malik Ross, who admitted to firing the shot that killed Xavier, but prosecutors initially said they lacked enough evidence to file murder charges. Ross later received a 10‑year federal prison term for an embezzlement scheme thought to be linked to efforts to flee while authorities sought Xavier’s killer. In September 2025, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office announced charges against Malik Ross, including first‑degree murder, first‑degree assault, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Does anyone in the Saint‑Louis area remember details from that week in August 2019 or have information that could help clarify what happened?