ST. LOUIS — Police are investigating after a deadly shooting in St. Louis' Greater Ville neighborhood on Monday.
Homicide detectives were called to a home in the 4000 block of Lexington Avenue, where police said they found a woman inside dead from a gunshot wound.
Monday afternoon, the victim was identified as 29-year-old Shavay Davis. Her address was listed as the 4000 block of Lexington, the same area the shooting occurred.
Police said Davis was found shot to death in her bed. Her dog was right next to her, also dead.
A police source told 5 On Your Side that Davis' ex-boyfriend was the one who found her and called police. There were also two children inside the home when police arrived, but they were not hurt.
Investigators said the front door was unlocked and a barbeque pit outside an opened window was damaged. They said it looked like someone stood on it to try to break-in.
Davis' sister told 5 On Your Side the family is heartbroken and just wants to know what happened.
Community members everywhere, like James Clark with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, just want the violence to stop.
"One homicide is one too many. One shooting is one too many," he said.
Clark said his condolences are with Davis' family and the work to better St. Louis needs to continue.
"Now's the time to double down on everything and put everything that we can into our neighborhoods," he said.
It's these situations that's leaving many in and around St. Louis on edge. Clark said that is warranted.
"People should be frightened, but we've got to look at how do we begin to put solutions in place," he said.
Recent statistics show that some of those solutions are paying off, Clark said, but it's not enough.
"I was so pleased when I read this news, that we're no longer the murder capital, but we cannot rest on our laurels," he said.
Specifically, he wants to work on expanding the "serving our streets program" and focus on the city's gun violence de-escalation efforts.
He said many programs that are already in place are working to make neighborhoods safer.
"There is an alignment right now, that I don't think we've ever had, that is beginning to bear fruit," Clark said.
With violence still happening, it's an issue that requires all hands-on-deck.
"There's a lot of momentum, but we've got to be able to capture it and bring more people into the solution fold," Clark said.
One neighbor 5 On Your Side spoke to said she is fearful for her and her daughter's life daily.
Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call homicide detectives at 314-444-5371 or leave an anonymous tip with CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to "stabilize inner-city neighborhoods." One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership with St. Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities.
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