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Man dies in girlfriend's arms after being found in Tower Grove South

Samantha Bates said her boyfriend's name was Ziyaa Umarov. She said he was a 23-year-old father of two who moved to America from Russia nine years ago.

ST. LOUIS – The girlfriend of the man found shot to death inside of a car in the Tower Grove South neighborhood Friday morning is sharing her story only with 5 On Your Side.

Samantha Bates said her boyfriend’s name was Ziyaa Umarov. She said he was the 23-year-old father of two who moved to America from Russia nine years ago.

Bates had been in a relationship with Umarov for the past two years. She described him as someone willing to do anything for anyone.

"He was the best person, I swear,” she said with tears rolling down her cheeks.

According to a post on the SLMPD District One Facebook page, investigators arrested two suspects who they believed killed Umarov. The Facebook post said the two stole a car on Lindell to commit the crime. But the girlfriend said the two individuals have since been released because of a lack of evidence.

“He was always trying to help everybody. He has the best heart,” she said.

Bates and others found him inside of a car bleeding to death.

"I tried to talk to him [but] his eyes would just roll to the back of his head,” she said. “He wouldn't respond at all. It was hard. "

Tia Richards was driving when she saw Bates and others in a panic. She stopped and tried to perform CPR to save Umarov.

"I never had someone else's blood on me before, " Richards said.

Richards said it pains her she couldn't save his life.

"That really hurts my heart," she said.

Because of his death, two kids under the age of 2 are now without a father.

"When he walks in a room, it lights up completely. When he doesn't walk in that room it's just still dark and everybody is just sad and quiet and nobody really speaks,” Bates said.

Bates said she has no clue who would have done this. She wants justice for her boyfriend and is hoping police find the people responsible.

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