Black homicide suspect escapes St. Louis juvenile detention facility

[Leroy N. Soetoro]

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/murder-suspect-at-large-after-
escaping-juvenile-detention-facility-st-louis/63-18f41377-49a6-45ef-bada-
baaffc91cf03?ref=exit-recirc

ST. LOUIS — A 17-year-old murder suspect escaped from the St. Louis
Juvenile Detention Center on Saturday evening, court officials confirmed
Sunday morning.

The suspect had been detained at the facility since Dec. 8, 2023. He faces
second-degree murder and first-degree assault charges for an Oct. 24,
2023, homicide that happened in the 4200 block of Shreve Ave. Officials
are not releasing the suspect's name because he's a juvenile.

Police dogs searched the area near the detention facility and found the
suspect's shirt outside the building, sources tell KSDK's Christine Byers.
Surveillance footage showed that he escaped through the parking garage by
rolling under a security gate. He was last seen walking north on
Vandeventer Avenue.

Police checked his last known address but he wasn't there.

According to a statement from the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, court staff
called police and provided information about the suspect immediately after
the escape, which happened around 6 p.m.

"Court staff are reviewing how the juvenile escaped," the statement said.

He was last seen wearing green pants, a gray shirt, and black and white
shoes, sources said. He has a swollen lip and a black eye.

5 On Your Side has asked police and the Judicial Circuit multiple times to
release the escapee's name or his picture due to the public safety
concern. They've told us they can not due to him being a minor.

The 20-year-old victim killed in the October shooting was Calvin Kelly,
police said. He was found with a gunshot wound to the head. Despite being
rushed to the hospital, Kelly died.

Kelly's mother, Naiesha Stewart, spoke only with 5 On Your Side on Sunday,
and she strongly disagrees with the decision to withhold the suspect's
name after what she saw on Oct. 24 in Penrose.

"My baby was laying on the ground, trying to gasp for his breath," Stewart
said.

Her son was shot and killed outside a market on Shreve in North St. Louis.
Stewart was nearby and ran to his side.

"He's got blood clots and everything else coming out," Stewart said. "I
was just talking to him like, 'Calvin breathe. Calvin I'm right here. I'm
not leaving your side.'"

Stewart says she found out on social media that her son's accused killer
had escaped.

"I'm pissed," Stewart said. "I'm pissed off because somebody is supposed
to be watching this little boy 24 hours a day, and he gets to escape?
That's not fair. That's not justice."

This isn't the first time something like this has happened at this
facility or, the detention center on Hogan Street. 5 On Your Side has
reported on more than a dozen teens getting away from the facilities since
2021.

Stewart is questioning the security levels of the Center as she continues
to grieve.

"My son had to be cremated because it was hard to come up with the money
to bury my son," Stewart said. "All I have to go by today on this day
right now is just his pictures. Or just looking at his ashes. It's not
fair. It's not right."

This is a breaking news story. Check back with KSDK.com for the latest
updates.


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