Dan Eugene Pruitt Jr., a 54-year-old Black man from Florissant, Missouri, was shot behind a building on the 3200 block of North Taylor Avenue in the Greater Ville neighborhood of St. Louis on the night of April 24, 2024. Officers responding to a call at about 10:00 p.m. found him with a critical gunshot wound to the chest; he was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.

Pruitt was known to family and friends for his vibrant personality and infectious laugh. Born in Brooksville, Mississippi, he graduated from Sumner High School in 1988 and worked as an over-the-road truck driver. He is survived by his children, his fiancé, and extended family who remembered him as the life of the party and an avid basketball fan.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Division opened an investigation, canvassed the area, and appealed to the public for information. Initial reports say no suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made. If anyone has information about the shooting or knew Dan Pruitt, please contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Division.