On the afternoon of January 3, 2019, two men were shot dead inside a residence in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of St. Louis. Officers answered reports of a shooting at about 1:35 p.m. on the 5600 block of Minerva Avenue and found a chaotic scene where multiple people had been struck by gunfire.

Victims included 44-year-old Cedric Jones and 29-year-old David Williams Jr., both pronounced dead at the scene. A third man, 39, survived initial wounds and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Investigators canvassed the area for witnesses and evidence, but at the time no suspects were arrested and no motive had been released.