On the evening of June 1, 2023, gunfire erupted near Poelker Park in the Downtown West neighborhood of St. Louis. Just before 9:00 p.m., first responders found 32-year-old Derick Conley of the 1000 block of 66th Street in University City lying by the Firefighters Memorial Statue with a fatal gunshot wound to the head; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Homicide detectives opened an investigation and a 37-year-old man was taken into custody as a possible suspect. Investigators applied for murder charges, but the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office concluded the available evidence was insufficient to file charges at that time and asked for more investigation. The 37-year-old was released after 24 hours when no formal charges were filed within the required period. The investigation into Conley’s killing remains ongoing.

If anyone saw activity near Poelker Park around 9:00 p.m. on June 1 or has information about this shooting, please come forward.