A 32-year-old man was beaten to death with hammers by at least two teens early Sunday morning on Itaska Street.
The victim was identified as Zemir Begic, 32, of the 4200 block of Miami Street. He had injuries to his head, abdomen, face and mouth. He was taken to St. Louis University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said Begic was in his vehicle in the 4200 block of Itaska about 1:15 a.m. when several juveniles approached on foot and began damaging it. Begic got out and the juveniles began yelling at him and striking him with hammers. Two male juveniles, 16 and 15, were taken into custody.
KPLR 11 has more on the two who were arrested, as well as a description of two other individuals wanted by the police:
Two were caught and taken into juvenile custody. Police are still searching for two others, a 16-year-old black male and a 15-year-old Hispanic.
A crowd gathered in Begic’s neighborhood, with police on the scene in riot gear:
In a shocking development, the white protestors did not burn down their neighborhood.
Police have yet to release a motive for the attack or report if there’s a link between the attack and the ongoing protests over the shooting death of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson.
Begic is reported to have been recently married.