Twenty-year-old Darwin Maldonado-Vargas was killed during a widespread outbreak of violence in St. Louis in the early hours of Sunday, June 28, 2026. He was at the Social Bar & Grill at 1551 S. 7th Street in Soulard when a large fight broke out and shots were fired; officers arriving around 4 a.m. found him struck in the neck. Bystanders tried to render aid but Maldonado-Vargas was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police, including K-9 units, secured the area and homicide detectives were assigned to piece together what happened during the chaotic morning. Investigators have tied the shooting to the large brawl at the bar, but no suspects have been publicly identified or arrested in connection with his death. The case remains open as one of three fatal shootings that occurred during a four-hour span that night in St. Louis.

If anyone was at the Social Bar & Grill that morning or has information about the fight or the shooting, please contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.