Samuel Williams Jr., a 14-year-old eighth grader known as Sam, was shot and killed on the evening of Wednesday, December 17, 2025, in the Gravois Park neighborhood of Saint Louis. He had been walking near the intersection of Oregon Avenue and Miami Street with his brother and a friend after leaving a convenience store when more than a dozen gunshots were reported in the area. Sam was struck, sought shelter, and was found by officers near a residence in the 3600 block of Oregon Avenue. He was taken to a hospital with critical injuries and pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Homicide detectives canvassed the scene and collected evidence from the street and a nearby two-story home. Investigators were searching for a dark-colored sedan with no license plates and visible ballistic damage believed to be involved in the drive-by style attack; no arrests had been reported in the days following the shooting. Sam’s godmother and members of the community remembered him as respectful and fond of football, video games, and family time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Louis Homicide Division or CrimeStoppers.