On May 23, 2024, 36-year-old Derek Keith Conway was fatally shot inside a residence in the 4700 block of Goethe Avenue in the Princeton Heights neighborhood of St. Louis. Officers arrived just before 1:30 a.m. and found Conway unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest; he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

Investigators say the shooting grew out of an interpersonal dispute involving a close acquaintance. Earlier that evening Conway had been socializing at a bar with 36-year-old Erick P. Clark and Clark’s wife. After the group left, Clark became suspicious when his wife and Conway did not return for about 45 minutes. Clark armed himself, tracked them to a mutual friend’s home, and — according to court documents and witness statements — entered the residence, found Conway engaged in a sexual act with his wife, and fired two shots that struck Conway in the chest. Clark surrendered to police and was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and two counts of armed criminal action.

Conway worked as a machinist and was described as someone who loved nature and restoring vintage muscle cars. He is survived by his mother and two sisters. If anyone knew Conway, the people he associated with that night, or has information about the shooting, please come forward.