Deadly downtown shooting spurs mental health push
ST. LOUIS — Mental health challenges facing our homeless population were highlighted this morning at an event in downtown St. Louis. It comes days after a deadly shooting in the heart of downtown involving two homeless men and St. Louis city police.
The incident took place at Market and 14th last Friday in broad daylight, very close to City Hall about 7:30 a.m. Police say one man was chasing another man and shot and killed him. A St. Louis police officer then shot and killed the gunman.
Longtime homeless advocate Larry Rice organized this morning’s event. He says the two men involved in the chase were both homeless and had serious mental health issues. They were apparently known on the streets as Cowboy and Rabbit.
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Rice says Cowboy shot and killed Rabbit and was then killed by police. Rice tells us that Cowboy had expressed days before the shooting that he wanted to die. Rice explained this morning that Cowboy had accused Rabbit of taking something from him then started chasing him and shot him. Rice believes that Cowboy committed suicide by cop because he did not drop his gun when police told him to.
At a news conference this morning, Rice and others highlighted what they call the growing mental health crisis among the homeless. Rice and others at the event called the mental health issue among the homeless a regional problem and said that all politicians need to step up and do more. Rice and others were critical of city leaders, saying putting up fencing around areas like City Hall does not address or solve the problem of mentally ill homeless people.
City officials removed a homeless encampment that had stood for some time last Friday right after the shooting. The incident took place very close to the homeless encampment. Rice says Rabbit stayed at the encampment and Cowboy came and went from the area.
Fencing now stands where that homeless encampment used to be very close to City Hall. Rice says putting up fences amounts to the city just pushing the homeless problem somewhere else and not trying to solve it. Rice says he would like to see a cabinet position created in the Mayor’s office to focus on homeless issue. He also believes more needs to be done to expand the continuum of care for the homeless.
For their part, city officials have said for a while that they are doing all they can to connect the homeless with services to help them. In fact, city officials have told us in the past that they have reached out to those in homeless encampments to try and get them assistance to get off the streets.
After this morning’s news conference, there was a brief memorial service for Cowboy and Rabbit. Rice and others planted a cross for the men and then prayed for them.
The city of St. Louis released this statement:
” There is no question that our region needs to be doing more to support the unhoused. In 2024, the Affordable Housing Commission tripled its annual awards, supporting 2,030 affordable housing units, including 345 new homes for low and moderate-income families.
The City under Mayor Jones’ leadership has expanded shelter capacity and available wraparound services, and worked with local providers to stand up St. Louis’ first low-barrier Safe Haven, and expanded the Jefferson Spaces tiny home transitional housing project from 50 to 100.
But we know more needs to be done. Fencing is an essential public safety measure, but not a long term solution.
After successfully getting the Green Line Metrolink expansion and Save Lives Now! initiative approved as chair of the East West Gateway Council of Governments, the Mayor is turning her attention to finding a regional approach to provide more support for our unhoused population.”
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