On the night of September 30 into October 1, 2015, 19-year-old Sean Engel was fatally shot during a confrontation in the 4400 block of Sexauer Avenue in North St. Louis. Officers found Engel unconscious inside his crashed Mini Cooper; he had sustained gunshot wounds to his face and side and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say Engel argued with an acquaintance, 24-year-old Jamar Mack, before a gunshot, a physical struggle and more shots. Witnesses reported Mack ordering Engel to give it up as the shooting continued. Engel managed to get into his car and drive away but collapsed and crashed. A wallet with a large sum of money and blood were found on the car floorboard. Mack fled, discarded a firearm during the pursuit, and was arrested with blood on him; prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted robbery and two counts of armed criminal action and set a $500,000 cash-only bond.

Was anyone in the neighborhood that night aware of an argument or the car driving off after the shots?