Collin Courtwright: Missouri teen among 2 dead in shootout between groups in apartment's parking lot
ST LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI: Three people were shot on Monday, February 5 afternoon in Oakville in south St Louis County. Two of the three died from their injuries, according to KSDK .
Reports said officers responded at about 1:15 pm to the shooting in the 5600 block of Chalet Hill Drive.
Who are the victims?
A St Louis County police commander confirmed at the scene that one man was found dead on the parking lot of Black Forest Apartments and a second male in his late teens died on the way to the hospital.
A third man was brought to a nearby hospital to receive medical attention for his wounds. His condition was not updated by the police.
Collin Courtwright was the teenage victim, according to a lady claiming to be his sister Starns.
She stated that Courtwright, who recently turned 15, did not reside at the apartment building. A shocked Starns revealed that she had been on the phone with her younger brother around midday.
"Everything was fine and then we got a phone call a couple of hours later saying he was gone. I couldn’t believe it. It was startling and tremendously heartbreaking,” said Starns.
Starns told '5 On Your Side' her brother did not live at the apartment complex; however, she said his friends stayed there.
“Collin was a great person. He had a great spirits. He was probably just with the wrong crowd. We rushed to the scene because we just couldn’t get any information,” said Starns.
'It was just quick you know'
Captain James Schneider with the St Louis County Police Department said, "The shooting was in the back parking lot so it wasn’t visible to residents."
Neighbor Mary Mistretta said, "It was just quick you know. Bang! Bang!”
Carson Pedroli was doing electrical work inside one of the apartment buildings when he heard all the commotion.
“I saw another lady walking around, seeing what was going on. She starts freaking out and I looked out the other window and that’s when I saw the guy laying out there on the ground. I didn’t see the car, but I heard it. It sped off pretty fast," said Pedroli.
“I hope and pray they do find them,” said Starns.
According to the family, Collin was the youngest of five children.
There were two automobiles and two groups engaged, and on Monday afternoon, the search for suspects was still ongoing.
"There was a vehicle that left the scene," Captain James Schneider, commander of the South County Precinct, said.
"We're not sure and I don't want to put that out there because we're not exactly sure of the color."
A section of Chalet Hill Drive at Baumgartner Road was blocked off while the investigation was going on. Automobiles were cautioned to avoid the area by a representative of the St Louis County Police Department.
Police has now asked anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call tel:636-529-8210 to speak with investigators. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, contact CrimeStoppers at tel:1-866-371-TIPS (8477).
